" An interesting aid to help meditate and contemplate " Album rating: 9/10
Rick Gregory | Cross Rhythms Music

12 MP3 Songs
GOSPEL: Contemporary Gospel, EASY LISTENING: Soft Rock



Details:
The Anselm had been writing and playing music together for 10 years before newly founded label 12tribe records put them in the studio. Now they had to take it seriously.
They call the music they make âreflective sub-rockâ and the debut album contains a meld of contemplative song-writing and evocative instrumental pieces. The contemplation is of Christ and our relationship with Him, with an aim to encourage every listener to begin or enhance their appreciation of the Saviour.

Feedback on the second single 'I don't know why', from the Anselm's debut album 'The Anselm' released exclusively on NewChristianMusic#35 compilation disk:

Wednesday, August 30, 2006 12:42

" Gentle praise and worship style number with an interesting finish "
Score: 7/10
Rob Hilliar | Radio Atlanta, Flame FM & Corinium Radio | United Kingdom


Tuesday, August 29, 2006 17:22

âSimple lyrics profound messageâ
David Robinson | Studio 18 Productions, Radio Star Country, Inisowen Community Radio Station, Sunshine Radio | Eire

âVery Goodâ
David Smith | Zany Sounds Promotions | UK

âNice harmonies here. Praise and worship formatted with a big style differenceâ
Kelvin Fahey | President of Australian Gospel Music Assoc. & Hardrush Music Publishers | Australia

âA little reminiscent of Delirious?, but this band has a quality and a definite spiritual message. This is a simple but effective recordingâ
Steve Bridges | Radio Cherwell | UK

âNice record, good voice, good songâ
Barry Dixon | Journalist | UK

âI love Jesus, excellentâ
Peter Wallace | Music Reviewer | UK

â10/10 Excellentâ
Wayne Nault | WYKX | USA

â9/10 Excellentâ
Arno Bierings | Radio Eagle | Holland


Monday, August 14, 2006 20:52

â10/10 These lyrics will bless many - sung with feelingâ
Pastor Keith Brown | Hiscoming Ministries Radio | UK

â10/10 Excellentâ
Derek Stringer | Good News Broadcasting Assoc. Network | Worldwide

â10/10 Excellent sound, very good voiceâ
John Edward | Radio RMA | Austria

âVery Goodâ
Martin van der Laan | Radio Compagnie | Holland

âGood trackâ
James Pearson | BBC Radio Shetland | Scotland

âSuper easy listening trackâ
Graham Hassall | Radio Nightingale | UK

âWould like to hear more - Pleasantâ
David Simpson | Calvary Media | Scotland

âBalladâ
Malcolm Clarke | Radio Northwick Park | UK

âEngaging and heart warmingâ
Paul Davis | NCM | Broadcaster and Journalist | UK


'The Anselm' Album Reviews:

Cross Rhythms review published Friday 7th July 2006;

Album Rating 9/10 * * * * * * * * *
The Anselm is a UK band of three guys who have been making music together since 1995. Recording initially off-the-cuff on basic equipment for close friends and fans, one fan then set up his own record label and his first signing was The Anselm.

They call the music they make "reflective sub-rock" and the debut album contains a mixture of contemplative songwriting and evocative instrumental pieces. There is a bit of everything on this album. Starting off with the simple but effective "Son Of Man" then running smoothly through "Jehovah Shalom" and "Let's All Be Nice Pt 1" which are quite meditational.

Throughout the album we're served simple but profound tracks like the acoustic number "Matchless Grace" which with a flowing melody and it's powerful lyrics really does make one reflect on the track title. The band then burst into an up beat pop style track "Heaven's Coming" which reminded me of '70s band The Undertones.

The Anselm create an almost ambient techno sound on "Let's All Be Nice Pt 2" and then build upon the first half of the album with strong tracks like "Peace, Peace" and the powerful "Torture In Tranquillity" and "Righteous For The Unrighteous". They wind the album up with the excellent "I Don't Know Why" in which they point to the ultimate source of their inspiration.

An interesting aid to help meditate and contemplate. The more I listened to it the more it grew on me. A very original sounding album which when given a chance will draw the listener in and take them on an interesting musical journey.

review by Rick Gregory
© Cross Rhythms 1983 - 2006 Over 20 years experience in Christian Music & Media

Soul Shine review posted June 2006 - The Anselm
UK based sub rock band the Anselm compliment melodic rhythms with the focus on their Savior. Itâs a lo-fi treat to listen to the track âSon of Manâ with Stephen McCabeâs delicate unforced tenderness streaming through the essence of the gospel story. Maybe itâs because theyâre British that makes them appealing, or maybe itâs their unwavering confidence in Jesus. Whatever it is, the Anselm stands unashamed at the door of indie rock with a blend of old school on such tracks as âJehovah Shalomâ, and dives into folk rock on âPrecious Oneâ. I would have appreciated the guys kicking it up a notch, adding some electronic sensibilities with a steady pulsing backbeat, perhaps on their next release, but for now, quoting The Killers, âitâs all indie rock and roll to meâ.

Writer: Lindsay Whitfield
Soul Shine is a monthly online music magazine based in Toronto, Canada, for music lovers located both locally and internationally.

XT3 review Monday - 12 June 2006 13:29 - The Anselm
Lyrics - some thought provoking words about Jesus and his presence in our lives, but still easy listening if you want something to chill out to.

Vocals - a refreshingly raw sound.

Style - a bit of something for everyone. It's quite nice not to know what's coming next and the instrumentals add an extra something!

Overall - this is a promising new band which we hope to hear more of! The music offers food for thought and a new approach to celebrating Jesus.

Alison Thompson | xt3.com

The Anselm has just released its debut self-titled album from new Christian record label 12tribe Records. Here's what we think...

Posted: Saturday, May 27 , 2006, 9:26 (BST)

If you are looking for Christian music but are sick of the usual stuff then you might want to take a look at The Anselm, a UK Christian "sub-rock" band glorifying Christ a little differently from the rest of the pack.

The debut self-titled album from The Anselm is one of two first releases from a new Christian record label, 12Tribe Records, which started up in Northern Ireland in April.

An elegant blend of soft folk rock music, enhanced by the appropriately unrefined vocals of Stephen McCabe, The Anselm immediately stands out as a Christian band that can perfectly balance searching Christian lyrics, desiring to testify the peace in Christ, with strong musical intuitiveness and a distinctive sound.

As soon as the catchy drum starts to beat in the first track, Son of Man, there is a sigh of relief that this is not just some other generic worship album churning out the same tired old praise format.

Itâs hard to identify one particular track as a stand-out track as most of them are great in their own right although Heavenâs Coming is certainly one of the highlights of the 12-track album. A kind of sweet rock oddball in the album, the track is a delightful kind of strolling song that pleasantly surprises just when you think youâve got the album sussed.

As the tracks run their course, the diverse compositions of the first half â with the exception of the straightforward and excellent Matchless Grace - culminate with the fantastic electro-instrumental mishmash Letâs All Be Nice Pt 2 to give the album one last burst before it gives way to more simplistic Christian folk songs.

One of the best tracks of the second half of the album is Peace Peace which has a superb hint of monastic choir about its chorus. And even though the folk style of the tracks in the second half of the album is familiar the songs are far from mundane but rather lead the album to a well-rounded conclusion.

And that is what is so great about The Anselm. Stylistically, itâs hard to pigeon-hole because of the diversity yet the songs still seem to melt together seamlessly.

All in all, The Anselm as a band are a refreshing arrival on the Christian music scene and have with their debut album nicely carved out their own corner. This is a band that deserves to do well and if it does it could lead to an exciting break from much of the generic Christian music that has so often dominated in the last decade or so.

Maria McKay | Editor | Christian Today
Christian Today is an independent, inter-denominational, christian media company which serves to provide direct, and current news information to the general christian public.

Feedback on the first single 'Son of Man', from the Anselm's debut album 'The Anselm' released exclusively on NewChristianMusic#32 compilation disk:

Monday, June 5, 2006 15:55

âVery goodâ
Ken Birkinshaw | Journalist | UK

âWell written songâ
Alan Potter | HHR Radio | UK

âGoodâ
Maurizio Benvenuti | Radio Incontro | Italy

âGoodâ
Bart Van Der Pol | VLOK Radio | Holland

âGoodâ
Arno Bierings | Radio Eagle | Holland

âGoodâ
Warren Fuller, 2nurfm, Australia

âNice acoustic start, this is an easy and listenable productionâ
Steve Bridges | Radio Cherwell | UK

âGoodâ
Paul Briggs | Journalist | UK

âPopâ
Peter Anderl | 14 stations across Austria, Holland and Switzerland

â10/10 lovely â really lovely = would like to hear other by this artistâ
Brendan OâHare | Shine FM | Northern Ireland

âGoodâ
Helene Dagorn | Radio Active | France

âGoodâ
Peter Rouch | Radio Faroe Islands, Faroe Islands | Ireland | Scotland | Norway

âGoodâ
Tony Peters | Primo Music | UK


Thursday, June 1, 2006 22:49

" Interesting cadence. Nicely arranged modern pop/rock song "
Score: 8/10
Rob Hilliar | Radio Atlanta, Flame FM & Corinium Radio | United Kingdom


Sunday, May 28, 2006 8:56 AM

" Good music and song. Excellent rhythm. "
Score: 9/10
Etienne Berthels | Radio "Terre Franche" | Belgium


Tuesday, May 16, 2006 8:08 AM

" Great message in song, should be popular on the Christian Music scene "
Score: 8/10
Pastor Keith Brown | Hiscoming Ministries Radio | England UK

"Hooray! A new UK urban-band worth noting. This self-penned street-level gospel-stuff is âinâyour-faceâ, contemporary and catchy yet at times gentle and reflective. Each song is distinctive in simple truth easily explained. There is a non-varnished feel to this production, vocals and musicianship where the words are forefront without distraction..... Aimed at young people perhaps yet regardless of demographic consideration this deserves a look."

Paul Davis | New Christian Music
Reverend Doctor Paul Davis was the first European Director of the USA's Gospel Music Association and the founder of the UK's Christian Music Association and the British Gospel Music Association. He is the founder of New Music Enterprises (www.newmusicenterprises.com)
and New Christian Music promo-disc (www.newchristianmusic.co.uk)