Album Review: Building 429 - The Space In Between Us (Expanded Edition)

This article originally appeared in the e-zine Hitch Co., a performing arts magazine of which I am the CCM correspondent.

This album shows that Christian worship can indeed be contemporary. A rather vintage album by now, The Space In Between Us (Expanded Edition) came out in 2005, and its rock ballad tracks might seem a little out of touch with the youth of East London in 2013, but the message that the album gives is one of a God who loves everyone no matter how much they mess up, and is therefore one that can reach anyone and everyone.

The album kicks off with the rock track Glory Defined, a confident declaration of what faith in Christ really means. The opening track is somewhat contrasted with the slower Above It All, a slightly uncomfortable track which highlights the unfairness of the reality of homelessness.

It might sound like a bit of a cop-out, but my favourite track hands down on this album is the title track. Third on the album, the lyrics speak of a desperation for God, who knows everything about us - even the things we'd rather no one knew, even Him. The song points towards the doubt that we can all face about God, and how difficult it can be to trust Him no matter what. This song is one of the softer songs on the album, leaving the lyrics clear and open, heightening the emotion that they convey.

The next big songs on this album are Never Look Away and Angeline. Never Look Away is a deeply metaphorical song that, in essence, is similar to Casting Crowns' Praise You In This Storm. Written in the first person, the song transports the listener to a stormy sea where they walk on water, standing by the strength of Christ; only when "fear and doubt" creep in do they "begin to sink", drawing parallels with the Biblical account of when Jesus walked on water and asked Peter to join Him (Matthew 14: 22-23). In contrast, Angeline is an upbeat rock track that you can't help but dance to, with a tune that sticks in your head and leaves you with a smile on your face. It's not necessarily a worship song, but works to give hope to someone in the process of following their dreams.

As this is an Extended Edition, this version of the album also includes the epic heavier track Free. Free is an air-guitar anthem with a brilliant riff, the kind of song that it takes all of your energy to listen to but by the end of it you can't stop singing it over and over again.

Overall, this album is a brilliant album that really paints a picture of how, in our hardships, we always have God to look out for us, and it's Him that we should seek first and foremost.

Tracks to check out:
The Space In Between Us
Never Look Away
All You Ask Of Me