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JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review

Hallowell, Hallowell

Hallowell
Hallowell

Street Date: March 22, 2019
Style: Indie Folk
Buy It: iTunes
Buy It: AmazonMP3



Hallowell begins with a four-part story of youthful rebellion that leads to the eventual, exhausted embrace of an inescapable God. Ultimately, that is the nuance that besets the rest of the self-titled debut from Bifrost Arts co-founder Joseph Pensak. This collection of sacred music is decidedly indie folk in character, with simplistic, emotive performances that rival the sonic cousins of Sufjan Stevens and Dave Bazan. This backdrop makes for subtle settings to traditional texts, which works really well since it seems that Pensak's strongest suit is his poetic text-painting. Each of the hymns is given a complex treatment that their thought-provoking layers deserve. The hymnal base of the album can begin to feel a bit drone-like from time to time, as is often the plight of the straightforward verse-chorus structure, but Pensak is able to switch things up when necessary (the driving outro of "Tho' Dark Be My Way" is a standout in this regard). Pensak just as easily navigates the regal and somber as he does the cheery and hopeful.

Both a postive and negative, more originals would have been much appreciated on Hallowell. Each of them - "The Wreath," "Golden In Spring," "Another World," and "You Take It All" - end up being the true gems of the album thanks to Pensak's cutting lyrical style. A verse from the poignant and shifty "You Take It All" has stayed with me since my first listen: "In imagined solace, I'm alone/Banish all unlike us, it's them that's wrong/We're a fallen nation waving bye/Buzzin' country station, hate for hire." Still, Pensak's delicate dressing of sacred sentiment makes his debut a worthwhile effort, and the few peeks we get into his lyrical ability mean that this Vermont pastor should be more than welcomed as an impactful voice in the liturgical music repertoire.

- Review date: 3/10/19, written by Mason Haynie of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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JFH Indie Spotlight Review . Record Label: Great Comfort Records
. Album length: 10 tracks: 43 minutes, 5 seconds
. Street Date: March 22, 2019
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: AmazonMP3

  1. The Wreath (6:14)
  2. Golden in Spring (3:54)
  3. Tho' Dark Be My Way (4:42)
  4. Another World (feat. François Clemmons) (2:34)
  5. Come Unto Me Ye Weary (3:58)
  6. Soul, Adorn Yourself With Gladness (4:20)
  7. Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior (4:09)
  8. All Things Well (2:47)
  9. Greenland (4:50)
  10. You Take it All (5:37)

 

 

 

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This Friday, July 25, 2025
ALBUMS
Anchor & Braille New Mexico [Equal Vision]
B. Tee Told You [Syntax]
Bride Scarecrow Messiah CD Re-Release [Girder]
Empowered SALT - EP (independent)
Homesick Prodigals Different Good (independent)
KDNS After Eden [Syntax]
Olivia Lane Songs About Jesus (Deluxe Edition) [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard TASHA [Motown Gospel]
Kevi Morse Kingston We Winning [Syntax]
Pulpit Vomit Hospital Lens [Rottweiler]
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno Dance for Jesus - EP (independent)
Taylor & Co Worship Breakthrough - EP (independent)
Josh Wright LEAD (independent)

SINGLES
abenezer i was lost - Single [Gotee]
Joe L Barnes Good Shepherd (Studio Version) - Single [Provident]
Sho Baraka Still Got Faith (ft. L3xdivine) - Single [Syntax]
Gracie Binion Easy To Please - Single [BEC]
Katty Camargo Shine Upon Me - Single (independent)
The CCC Collective Thankful - Single (independent)
C4 Crotona Mr. Gritty - Single [Syntax]
CXMMXNS Trust and Obey (feat. CAIN) - Single [Provident]
EJ Swavv & Nickwit2Ks Growth - Single [Syntax]
Forrest Frank GOD'S GOT MY BACK - Single [River House / 10K]
Andrew Gonoude Closer To You - Single (independent)
Noah Paul Harrison Oh Lord My God (Live) - Single [Bethel]
J.Solo All I Have (ft. Kaboose & MotionPlus) - Single [Syntax]
Kings Kaleidoscope + Kings Kaleidoscope Hymns Amazing Grace - Single [BEC]
Tasha Layton Life In Me - Single [BEC]
Lecrae Bless You (feat. Torey D'Shaun) - Single [Reach]
TobyMac God Did It (feat. Jamie MacDonald) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Matt Maher Wait (Radio Version) - Single [Provident]
Hunter Plake Down to Earth - Single [BEC]
QEW JOYXFIX (ft. Stevie Rizo) - Single [Syntax]
Naomi Raine God Will Work It Out - Single [Tribl]
Rave Jesus Runnin' - Single [Provident]
Saints in Exile Bad Vibes - Single [Syntax]
Xander Sallows infinite - Single [DREAM]
Silent Reflection Left Me for Dead - Single [Syntax]
Michael W. Smith Your Love Is A Flood - Single [The Fuel]
John Stratton The Body and the Blood - Single [Pure Mosaic Services]
Regina Vandereijk You're the Light - Single (independent)
Joel Vaughn Feel It - Single [DREAM]
Zach Williams Killed A Man - Single [Provident]
Zauntee Jesus Down In Florida - Single [BEC]

VINYL
Bride Scarecrow Messiah Vinyl [Girder]

DVD
Jordan Smith The People's Hymnal DVD [Gaither]

This Saturday, July 26, 2025
SINGLES
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno What Would You Do? - Single (independent)

Next Friday, August 1, 2025
ALBUMS
Crash Rickshaw Big Sir - EP [Velvet Blue]
McKamey Legacy Holding to Truth [Horizon]
Ordained Thunder Roar [Girder]
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SINGLES
Dan Bremnes Human - Single [Curb]
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Sleeping At Last Believe - Single (independent)

VINYL
Disciple Attack! (Limited Run Vinyl) Vinyl [Girder]



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