A revival is happening among Christian indie bands these days. Last year saw the return of Luxury with Like Unto Lambs; now 2025 sees the re-emergence of Fine China with their latest full-length, I Felt Called. This time around, the effort revolves largely around Rob Withem with a little help from family and friends--most notably Charlie Martin (Starflyer 59, The Rocky Valentines) lending his talents on the drums. The sound is an ethereal pop/rock that brings to mind the '80s era of The 77s or even Luxury's last release. The end result is a dreamy, stream-of-conscious album that is pleasant to listen to while giving the listener space to explore his feelings.

What immediately struck this reviewer was how well-paced the album is. The first two tracks ("Television Set", "Fraught with Danger") fall under 4 minutes, while track 3 ("No Long Face") rolls over the 7-minute mark. However, because the first two tracks moved quickly, the longer track doesn't feel as much of a chore. After "No Long Face," there are two tracks over 4 minutes before the next two fall back under 4. Then we get the longest track of the bunch, "Desert of My Dreams," before the track lengths bounce around to the end. In spite of the overall length of I Felt Called, this pacing keeps it from feeling like a slog. The beautiful music also helps. Synths, guitars, and reverb fall layer-upon-layer like a sonic waterfall into the listener's ear. The only downside here is that the vocals tend to blur too much in the music and get lost. It's hard to tell if this is due to Withem's breathy delivery of the lines, or the overall mix. This does seem to be a recurring problem for this reviewer when it comes to recent Velvet Blue releases.

Lyrically, it may not be as rich as the music, but it still offers its own value. The general feel is one of introspection and wrestling with living in the past versus redeeming the present (see "Television Set" or "Pedal to the Metal"). While there's nothing necessarily overt in terms of faith, there are plenty of hints and allusions used throughout, from the golden calf in "Television Set," to the words of Paul ("Fraught with Danger"), to even a sneaky reference to Creation ("Hover Overton"). Poetry may not be Withem's strong spot, but the lyrics and music complement each other well to create an almost meditative experience.

Some may wonder what's the point in these semi-dormant bands suddenly erupting with new music? The answer is simple: Why not? With a rock scene starved for something fresh, the return of groups like Luxury and Fine China is a welcome one. It not only excites long-time fans but invites new listeners as well. It wouldn't surprise me if some of these groups find more acclaim and attention this time around than when they first started. When it comes to I Felt Called, there's certainly room for people to jump on and enjoy the ride.

- Review date: 5/6/25, written by John Underdown of Jesusfreakhideout.com