Ghosts Upon the Earth (Deluxe Edition)

On Ghosts Upon the Earth, Gungor approaches the story of the world’s fall and redemption with fresh eyes and an adventurous spirit. Michael and Lisa Gungor may sing in subdued, almost murmuring tones, but the message they express is alive with awestruck joy, honoring the Creator in deeply personal, mystically-tinged language. Together with their band mates, they embellish their idiosyncratic style of liturgical folk/rock with bluegrass instrumental flourishes, shimmering orchestral strings and surging techno beats. “Crags and Clay,” “You Are the Beauty” and “Brother Moon” are prime examples of Gungor’s eclectic, multi-layered approach, far removed from the typical arena-pop bombast of modern praise music. Particularly outstanding are “Let There Be” (built around a soaring choir and an oscillating electronica groove) and “Wake Up Sleeper” (framing Lisa’s earnest vocals with skittering, jazz-tinged violins). At once otherworldly and immediate, Ghosts Upon the Earth is the sort of quirky yet compelling worship project that Christian music could use more of.