Pastor Tony Mbamalu releases an album titled Higher Ground, AKEEM LASISI writes
The pastor has been to the studio and produced a 12-track album, but he insists he is neither a singer nor an entertainer. It is his own way of stressing the fact that he has found himself in music just to serve as an instrument of worship.
Listening to all the songs in Higher Ground, which was presented to the public in Lagos on Saturday, one will readily agree with Pastor Tony Mbamalu of the Holy Ghost Fellowship, Okota that his is a very inspiring collection of songs.
In terms of theme and style, the music is clean and crafted for spiritual discovery and elevation. Unlike many modern-day gospel artistes who want impress the listener the manner secular musicians do, Mbamalu focuses on the exaltation of God. The irony is that although Higher Ground is not made to be a dance hall affair, whoever whose spirit is moved by the flow of the songs will still be able to dance in a way.
In the title track, he urges the listener – and the congregation – to rise as ‘it’s time to go to the higher ground.” But in some of the tracks, Mbamalu simply submits himself to the awesomeness of God. This is what happens in You Alone can, where he sings, “You are the carpenter/ You are the only one who can fix my life/ Jesus, repair my life.”
The pastor stresses that Higher Ground, just like other songs that were inspired by the Holy Spirit. According to him, inspiration for it came from a deep worship.
He notes, ‘I am not a singer. l am not a entertainer. I am basically a worshipper. At the point l started receiving the songs l tried to put them together and tried to reproduce them the way l had them but it was not possible because there are some notes up there that you cannot hear down here. The songs will transform lives.”
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