Israel and New Breed - Live from Another Level

Live from Another Level
Integrity Gospel

Get ready to be taken to Another Level in praise and worship with Israel and New Breed.  This is the third release from this group, recorded live in November 2003 in Decatur, Georgia at Total Grace Christian Centre.  Live from Another Level is a musical mélange of R&B, reggae, rock, Latin and contemporary music poured into a two-disc project that is sure to satisfy praise and worship fans all over the world.

The first disc, conveniently titled Level 1, opens by inviting everyone to Come in from the Outside.  A musical fanfare of live horns and a screaming audience sets the atmosphere about what to expect for this praise session.  You can’t help but raise your hands as Israel tells everyone to praise the Lord, no matter who you are.  There’s no reason to be ashamed.  He then goes into a reggae mode stating that we’re a generation created to give God praise and adoration.  A very catchy tune… and this is only the first song!

Philippians 4:4 tells everyone to rejoice in the Lord.  The next track is the first radio single released for this project – Again I Say Rejoice.  This high-energy tune written by Israel and Aaron Lindsey will have you dancing around in praise.  And in case you didn’t get enough the first time, the reprise kicks in right after inviting you again to praise the name of the Lord.

Israel and New Breed takes you on a trip to South Africa with All Around.  Reminding listeners that God’s love is all around us, the South African rhythms will draw you in as he tells all the nations to sing and shout.  The jubilation continues with the medley You’ve Made Me Glad/Who is Like the Lord. 

The first song is a Latin‑influenced song co-written by Israel Houghton, Aaron Lindsey and Cindy Cruse Ratcliff (the worship leader at Lakewood Church, where Houghton attends in Texas).  This mixes perfectly with Who is Like the Lord, taken from Israel’s first project, A New Season.  It then goes right into I Hear the Sound, New Breed’s anthem they have been singing across the country.  Towards the end, New Breed lets everyone know it’s not a black thing, or a white thing or a color thing, but it’s a Kingdom thing.  Then it goes into rock-flavored fusion similar to a war cry declaring that we’re takin’ it back… powerful stuff.

Bishop Joseph Garlington , Senior Pastor of the Covenant Church of Pittsburgh, provides the spoken word that gives introduction to the last song on Level 1.  He leads the audience into So Easy to Love You which leads into Friend of God (which can also be found on the Cover the Earth – Lakewood Church CD).  You only get a taste of what’s to come on Level 2 with this last song.

We praised our way through Level 1; Level 2 concentrates on worship.  It starts with the full version of Friend of God and slows into full worship mode.  The next few songs concentrate on the theme of ‘friend of God’.  This gives the listener a chance to reflect on what a friend we have in Him.

After a few more worship songs to get the listener deeper into worship, Breathe Into Me is introduced.  The song asks God to breathe new life into us.  Your hands will be lifted in surrender by the end of this song.  It’s simply awesome… and the awesomeness of God continues with the Awesome Medley.  I Stand in Awe starts with a verse in Spanish and then into English.  It flows in with a Sunday morning favorite, Awesome In This Place. 

Another CCM hit, Here I Am to Worship, is next on this journey.  If you are not already singing this song in your worship services, you soon will be after hearing this song.  Listen closely to the ending for a familiar Israel and New Breed song (with a different twist) from A New Season.

The title track, Going to Another Level, is the last song on the praise and worship voyage.  A funky track, with its sharp horn lines, takes this CD out with a bang.  It modulates several times and urges the listener to keep pressing on to get to that other level.

Live from Another Level is a fantastic praise and worship CD that will have you waving your hands and dancing in praise; it will also bring you to a quiet place of solitude for worship.  It has everything that every good praise and worship CD should have… the elements to take your worship to Another Level.