The British electro-pop band Ooberfuse is composed of British-Filipina frontwoman Cherrie Anderson (vocals), Hal St. John (guitar, synth), Nico Cox (guitar) and Jon Jonsson (drums). Their most popular song to date is “Heart’s Cry” from their first album, Still Love My Enemies. It was the official anthem of the World Youth Day in 2010. They have turned music into movement both in the physical and spiritual sense by crafting songs that are socially aware, spiritual, and extremely dance-worthy. Mixing serious themes such as religious persecution and human trafficking with electronica might seem counter-intuitive, but it works.
Seventh Wave is their second album, and takes its name from their cover of Sting’s “Love is the Seventh Wave.” There are two versions – the second track and a club mix at the end. As a fan, I prefer the club mix, as I find it more interesting, and like the beat more. “Call My Name” is a cheery, unassuming worship song. There’s an acoustic version near the end, which I actually prefer as I can focus on the lyrics better.
The slower songs on the album include “Like the Sun,” “Knife in My Heart,” “Rain,” “Perfect Dream,” and “Rescue.” From these songs, “Rescue” is the one that strikes me the most for two reasons. One, it tells a story, and I love songs with a good narrative. It feels like it would belong in a Broadway musical, or the soundtrack of an animated movie. Two, it was inspired by the experiences of Sophie Hayes, a survivor of human trafficking.
“Blood Cries Out” and “Free Asia Bibi” both have a Bollywood sound and dramatic lyrics that I instantly liked, being a huge Bollywood fan. Both songs are about religious persecution and inspired by real people – Shahbaz Bhatti and Asia Bibi. “Credo” is the only song that begins with St. John singing, which is a nice change. It is a modern hymn that mixes Latin, English and Filipino lyrics to emphasize both the universality and diversity of faith. “Starless Midnight” is another hopeful, upbeat song that comes after a series of slow, reflective tracks. The lyrics are simple but quite catchy.
I’m not too fond of the musical arrangement for some songs in this album, but Anderson’s vocals are consistently engaging and bring a lightness to even the most serious songs. My favourites would have to be “Blood Cries Out” and “Credo”, as I find them to be the most powerful and memorable ones. In a nutshell, Ooberfuse has two distinct features – unapologetic faith and raw talent. I think this band is one of the more interesting Christian/Catholic bands out there to date, and I look forward to hearing more from them.
To find out more about Ooberfuse, check out their website: http://www.ooberfuse.com/home.cfm
And, check out their YouTube page: http://www.youtube.com/user/ooberfuse
