UK-based singer/songwriter/modern worship leader Tim Hughes is on a roll again. You may be familiar with his mega hit and Dove Award winning worship song "Here I Am to Worship," but there's more to come. Following his debut album Here I Am to Worship, Worship Together/Sparrow Records artist Tim Hughes has produced an amazing sophomore effort that will tear your heart to pieces.

What makes this worship leader astonishingly unlike the others is his lack of self-focus. At surprisingly only 26 years old, Hughes has claimed the desire to just blend in and contribute to the body of Christ wherever it needs be. Although he has this desire, the path his music is taking seems to be leading him above and beyond that of even his friend and mentor, Matt Redman. Personally, I'm not too picky when it comes to worship music, but for those of you who believe all worship musicians sound the same, you'll be surprised when listening to Hughes' new album.

When Silence Falls, produced by Nathan Nockels (Passion, Watermark), is an extraordinary album that will draw seekers, believers, and worshippers from all over. From your first impression, you get the feeling that it's just another modern worship album with some meaningful lyrics, but later you find the sincerity and sensitivity of the album which many may take for granted. Hughes has been said to have a musical maturity beyond his years, and that statement is found true throughout this whole album. Hughes clearly has a gift for knowing how to pen the right lyrics to touch the hearts of people from youth to adult.

Starting off When Silence Falls, is the somewhat familiar, fast beat, and passionate worship song, "Beautiful One," which a few other artists like Jeremy Camp have offered up their own take on. Farther along you find "Giver of Life," a faster song with energetic lyrics. Later in the album appears the slow, mellow, and heart-wrenching song, "When the Tears Fall." With truthful lyrics like "When hope is lost I'll call you Savior, when pain surrounds I call you Healer, when silence falls You'll be the song within my heart", this song will bring you to tears if the others haven't yet. Hughes uses a mixture of intimate, passionate, and truthful lyrics in all of his songs to stir the emotions of his listeners. Next you find "Nothing in This World" and you may do a double take thinking you're about to hear "Here I Am To Worship," which isn't really a surprise considering Hughes wrote both songs. The album ends with the short, more upbeat and yet soft "Beautiful One" reprise. I truly could not find anything worthy of a bad comment on this album.

If you're into modern worship I would suggest adding this record to your collection. Fans of Jeff Deyo, Lincoln Brewster, Jason Ingram, Matt Redman, Delirious?, or Sonicflood would appreciate Tim Hughes' music. With this being only his sophomore effort, we can definitely expect nothing but good things from Hughes in the future.

- Review date: 8/20/04, written by Jessica Vander Loop