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Vicky Beeching
By Joe Montague
I remember the first time I met Vicky Beeching, it was just for a fleeting few moments a couple of years ago at a concert in Toronto Canada. The engaging young Brit was opening for two other bands in a packed out venue that held 5,000 youth and at which they were turning away hundreds more. Few of them knew who Beeching was and probably even fewer came to hear her play her guitar or sing but most left talking about how great she was that evening. Vicky Beeching only played a few songs but she completely upstaged the other acts that night. Beeching's time has arrived and her new CD Painting The Invisible is one CD that you should put on your "must have" list. The first two tracks "Join The Song" and "Hallelujah What A Savior" are performed with a strong pop lilt but with a passion that should inspire you to lift your praise heavenwards. It therefore comes as no surprise to find that Beeching has written in her liner notes, "As you hold this album in your hands, I pray that God would take these songs, use them to encourage your heart and stir your soul to worship Him." As Beeching sings "May I never lose the wonder of the cross," there is an earnestness that communicates to the listener, ?Do not ever forget the tremendous cost and the precious gift that come together at Calvary.' As the singer's soprano vocals reach for the high end of her range, she does so effortlessly. While track six "Every One Under The Sun" builds momentum you realize under this peaceful demeanor lies a rocker waiting to burst forth. Ed Cash, whose production fingerprints are on this tune, combines with Paul Moak to bend some extraordinary notes on the electric six strings. Craig Young lays down a heavy bassline with drummer Shannon Forrest bringing depth and texture. The apocalyptic "Suddenly" is a guitar driven tune, complimented nicely by Nathan Nockles (Watermark) keyboard and piano chops. One continues to be amazed at Beeching's range and her gorgeous vocals. Few artists are able to pull off singing rock tunes without a bit of grit or sandpaper to their voice but the contrast between the slashing guitar riffs and Beeching's vocals seems to enhance the listener's enjoyment. The Beeching / Joy Yetton collaboration "Only Your Love" pushes Vicky Beeching towards the front of the class for female vocalists. I hope that when the Dove Nominations come out for 2008 those who do the nominating have not forgotten about this song. This song deserves recognition for "Song of the Year." The booklet of original songs created by Beeching has two faces, the first half is primarily made up of melodic worship tunes four of which, "Join The Song", "Hallelujah What A Savior", "Great Is Your Glory" and "Everyone Under The Sun", are produced by Ed Cash. "Join The Song" was the first single released from the album and combines words from Thomas Ken's "The Doxology" with original verses from Beeching and Cash. The album's second personality surfaces in the harder edged rock tunes produced by Nathan Nockels the best of which may very well be "Twenty-Six Summers". On her earlier songs Beeching's beautiful vocals served as a great contrast to the guitar riffs but now she digs deeper and comes up with grit to give a gutsy performance. She may be British but this song is firmly entrenched in the southern rock genre. Her vocals are reminiscent of a Melissa Etheridge. Beeching who comes equipped with a theology degree from Oxford University creates theologically sound songs without being bland. She retains the integrity of the cross, leads us in worship and proves she can do it with melodic phrasing or outright rocking.
Copyright © 2007 Joe Montague, exclusive rights reserved. This material may not be redistributed without prior written permission from Joe Montague. Joe Montague is an internationally published freelance journalist / photographer. 
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