Standing Stones

The Crossing's 2002 album Standing Stones is rock-solid musically, poetically and theologically. The theme is that Christians are living standing stones telling the Story, just as the standing stones of Israel and the Celtic people stood witness to faith. They sing about the tension of enduring suffering on earth today in such personal songs as "I'll Take Your Promises With Me" about famine, war and disease in Africa and "Niki," which tells the story of a war-prisoner's hardships. They don't gloss over deep human feeling: "She's safe in God's arms, but I want her in mine," is the anguished, honest cry of a believer struggling with the reality of a terrible situation. They sing about people who endured in the past in "Endurance," a ballad in the tradition of the old sailing songs about Shackleton's adventures, a parable for longsuffering. Poetic gems sparkle throughout the recording, such as "through frozen tears and gales of grief/ Enduring we shall conquer." The bedrock theological theme is suffering precedes glorification.

"Tossed and Driven" with its simple single fiddle and bodhran accompaniment with unison voices is extremely effective in portraying the mood of the travelin' folk of Ireland. Reminiscent of an Appalachian song, it powerfully drives home the cost of discipleship. Many of the tunes have a "session feel" to them, as the liner notes describe "The Quaker Kid from Leitrim," with instruments layering in and out until all players in the room have had a go at it. The tunes arranged as sets are well matched. "Song of the Books" begins with a mournful air on uilleann pipes and cello, followed by three reels with the addition of guitar playing some great jazzy chords. "Molly MacAlpin" presents a haunting melody skillfully weaving harp, low whistle and cello.

There's a good balance between vocal and instrumental numbers. Sweet female and strong male vocals come from Hilde Bialach, Jennifer Ingerson, Tony Krogh, Mark Hall and Mike Baznik. A great variety of traditional instruments are represented including fiddle, cello, guitar, bouzouki, bodhran, highland and uilleann pipes, whistles, flute, Irish harp, and piano. All instrumentalists are skilled players who spent much time thinking through and planning, then letting it come from the heart. The final cut, "The Hag and the Humours," shows creativity in opening with a didgeridoo leading to a pipe set that exclaims "Maranatha!"

In true Celtic style, hope and joy shine through the themes of real-life struggles as people continue to give praise, knowing "We're reminders of His love.... standing straight and tall, unmoved by wind or weather".