One of my favourite albums of 2009 was Gossip’s “Music For Men”.  I think Beth Ditto has one of the great modern rock voices, and so do a few other people across the globe…though primarily in Europe and here in Australia it would seem.  They also make crazy cool simple videos that sometimes include balloon headed people like that pic up there.

But in an increasingly common scenario, its an album that’s been mastered just on the edge of distortion. I think it suits most of the songs, but I’ve noticed I can’t listen to it all the way through with ear buds as they heighten the sensation that every note is just about to crack and make my ears bleed.

It’s loud.  Even the quiet bits.  And therein lies the problem : the loudness war.  Everyone wants their album to stand out from the crowd, so they get louder and louder and louder.

Isn’t that just the way of the world?  Everywhere there is constant noise competing for our attention.  And these days a lot of that noise crosses the sensual borders.  All our senses are bombarded with noise.  I believe that this noise that we’re subjected to from conception contributes to some of the increase in things like ADD, autism, etc that we are seeing : our brains need a way to cope.  (Please note : I’m not an expert, I have no stats to back this up, it’s just my opinion…)

And I continue to fall for it.  Not resting properly, not spending time in silence, not taking time out.  Not going into the wilderness and spending time with my Saviour.

The greater your responsibilities the easier it is to justify not taking that time.  But the older you get, the quicker it takes a toll on your body.  How much more so our spirits?  Jesus needed it. We need it. Don’t neglect turning off the noise.  But equally, don’t stay there – we’re called to tell the world.

“After dismissing the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone.”  Matt 14:23
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David Goodwin has just completed 3 years as a Business Board member and Music Director of Awesome Church, Sydney, Australia, and is emigrating to Northern Ireland with his Northern Irish wife in a couple of months time.  He produced the worship team’s first album which is physically released next week (hopefully followed by online release soon) and managed to resist the temptation to make it a contender in the loudness war.  In a non-voluntary capacity, he manages an audio/communications company which is currently preparing to provide the comms systems for the Vancouver Winter Olympics in mid-February.  You can find him online at www.davidgoodwin.com, which has links to way too many other places you can find him too.