Ctrl is Derek Webb's highly anticipated follow-up to the critically acclaimed and at-times controversial Stockholm Syndrome (2010). Once again Derek reaches across dividing lines and uses his uncanny lyrical ability and innovative song production to open thought provoking conversation. A convergence of soft acoustic guitar with hip-hop influenced rhythmic sensibilities and a heavy leaning on samples from turn of the century recordings of 'Sacred Harp' (or 'shape note') acapella recordings, Ctrl is the next evolutionary step forward for an artist who is constantly experimenting, challenging conventions of genre and style. Morally challenging and musically innovative, Derek Webb takes yet another bold step with Ctrl, shifting from the electronica-based sounds that have dominated his work in recent years toward a striking blend of acoustic and synthetic instrumentation. Webb's singing harks back to the folksy sweetness of his work with Caedmon's Call, tempered by a greater sense of maturity and experience. Samples of sacred harp choirs and delicate guitar work contrast with techno beats and ambient textures to create a mood at once exalted and unnerving. Within these perimeters, Webb moves between the otherworldly angst of
And See the Flaming Skies to the relentless pulsations of
Attonitos Gloria and the wistful sparkle of
Reanimate. The album compares the human desire for control with God's overarching design in
Blocks and
I Feel Everything. Webb releases his inner Art Garfunkel in
A Real Ghost, capturing the experience of Christian rebirth in quietly intense language against a stark, dreamy backdrop.
Around Every Corner ends the album with a burst of bright, uplifting pop/rock. - iTunes
CD Details
- Release Date: September 04, 2012
- Record Label: Fair Trade Services
- UPC: 736211604392
- Number of Discs: 1
Listen Before You Buy
