I've been on a diversion lately, immersing myself in music. If I had my way I'd have music playing 24 hours a day. I have two sets of headphones, the in-ear variety for driving (car stereo doesn't work, most stuff on mp3 player anyhow...illegal? so is speeding...) and noise cancelling for every chance I get.
It isn't strange that this is what I've been doing as music has been a vital part of my life since a very young age. Nor is it strange that I have a 1TB hard drive filling up rapidly. Nor is it strange that my musical taste varies, from gospel to techno to post-rock to ambient and anything and everything in between. I appreciate (almost) all forms of musical expression even though I may not enjoy some of them.
I used to listen to harder rock and the obligatory classic rock when younger and grew out of it as I grew older. This isn't a judgment of the music, just an acknowledgment of how I changed. I suppose if I listened to classic rock 'til the day I dropped dead I'd wonder if I plateaued and stayed there.
Anyhow, in my travels I stumbled across a box set called "Goodbye Babylon" several years ago issued by Dust To Digital. I sat on this for years and, at best, dabbled in it. Lately I've revisited it. Perhaps it was the timing but I sat mesmerized.
The album is filled with old gospel/church songs. These aren't the traditional hymns everyone knows. My wife, who knows every church song ever written, didn't know any of them. We're talking seriously old and, I'm guessing, obscure. The static crackle of old 78s resonates. There are a few "big" names many people known, Mahalia Jackson perhaps the most famous, but this is definitely not a best of compilation.
Though I devour many, many forms of music - dub and dub techno my latest obsession - it does not generally captivate me as it did in my youth. It doesn't move the soul and it is only occasional when music actually stirs my emotions. For the most part music is meditative, tranquilizing. Perhaps I have hardened, perhaps I don't expect as much from music, I'm not sure.
But I do know that the only music that really grips me and stirs my soul is "religious" music. I've sat captivated by the recital of the Qur'an and can easily listen to the adhan or Al-Fatihah many times without tire. I've found myself in trancelike stupor listening to Buddhist chanting, been hypnotized by Qawwali music and can listen to Native American spirituals anytime.
Though I genuinely "feel" the power of the music, I can't help but wonder if I lack proper context to truly appreciate the music. Perhaps I am self-limiting in this view. My "context" is Christian. Not all "Christian" music, mind you. Much of it is simply not good, just as in other style of music. Just because it is tagged as Christian doesn't mean I am obligated to somehow think it good.
Much of today's "religious" (especially Christian) music is no different from the "world" music it so (often cheaply) imitates. It is often just worldly music with a Christian stamp, maybe a Jesus thrown in here and there to authenticate it.
But this box set is basically Jesus straight, no chaser. It is very reminiscent of the music from Searching For The Wrong Eyed Jesus in its uncompromising simplicity, fervency and occasional weirdness. Surprisingly, I found my spirit being lifted as I listened to the entirety of the first disc.
Sure it is a slice of Americana, culturally significant and historically interesting in a Bob Dylan, Neil Young, roots music kind of way. You can listen to it and be curious and explore it and yet not be touched by its spirit at all.
But I think it was the simplicity that caught me off guard, not as a novelty, not as one sitting in judgment of the music or the musicians, but as one who understood. In years past I would have written it off as backwards, made fun of it and moved on. But there is power in it and I found myself taken aback, amazed at what I heard.
