A Deeper Level: Live (CD - 2007)

Israel: Stacey Joseph, Leah Smith, Mattie Blackburn, Dakri Brown, Lois DuPlessis, Ryan Adgar, Jamil Freeman, Jeremiah Woods, Danielle Stephens, Sha' Simpson, Olanrewaju Agbabiaka, Rodney Jordan (vocals); Johnny "Natural" Najera (guitars); Neville Diedericks, Ryan Edgar (acoustic guitar); Eric Brice (gut-string guitar); Christa Black (violin); Israel Houghton (piano); Justin Savage, Arthur 'Buddy' Strong, Jerry Harris (keyboards); Justin Raines, Terrance Palmer (bass guitar); 'Big' Mike Clemons (drums); Javier Solís (percussion).

Additional personnel: Naielle Stephens, Daniel Johnson (vocals); Michael Gungor (guitars); Jimmy Bolin (saxophone); Vinnie Ciesielski (trumpet); Roy Agee (trombone); Aaron Lindsey (keyboards); Mark Townsend (vocoder); Chris Tomlin, YPJ, Darlene Zschech, Jonny Lang, T-Bone.

Many contemporary gospel releases are sometimes difficult to distinguish from the secular R&B and hip-hop that influenced them musically, but the third album by Israel & New Breed is something entirely different. The press kit for the aptly titled A DEEPER LEVEL claims that Israel & New Breed fasted for 40 days in preparation for the recording of this album, a cleansing ritual meant to purify their music from worldliness. Indeed, A DEEPER LEVEL is a powerfully moving expression of belief delivered with the self-assurance of true believers.

Israel & New Breed's A Deeper Level: Live was recorded at the three-day Deeper Level worship conference held in Houghton's home base of Houston, TX. The record is the outfit's second time out with gospel giant Integrity Music, and the difference is significant. There are only shadows of the gutsy, brilliant arrangements and staggering instrumental/vocal performances that gospel music fans fell in love with on New Breed's previous recordings. Houghton trades in his aggressive, complex band sound for a guitar-driven CCM washout. There are windows of the stylistic diversity heard on previous projects, like the reggaeton-driven "With Long Life" and the Afro-pop track "Identity." Although the overall musicianship is of a very high level, the stylistic bent of the album is mainstream CCM. Where in the past Houghton partnered with African music legend Jonathan Butler, A Deeper Level features guests like Chris Tomlin and Darlene Zschech. Preceded by a 40-day fast, the concert recordings are strung together with spoken prayers and petitions. These moments are characterized by off-color political comments, offset by lyrical assaults on everything from abortion to divorce to homosexuality throughout. The tone of the record is unapologetically angry conservatism. New Breed's apparent catering to right-wing white audiences does nothing short of poison what was once a fresh, deep well. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez

Israel & New Breed's A Deeper Level: Live was recorded at the three-day Deeper Level worship conference held in Houghton's home base of Houston, TX. The record is the outfit's second time out with gospel giant Integrity Music, and the difference is significant, as Houghton trades in his aggressive, complex band sound for guitar-driven CCM. There are windows of the stylistic diversity heard on previous projects, like the reggaeton-driven "With Long Life" and the Afro-pop track "Identity." Although the overall musicianship is of a very high level, the stylistic bent of the album is mainstream CCM. Where in the past Houghton partnered with African music legend Jonathan Butler, A Deeper Level features guests like Chris Tomlin and Darlene Zschech. Preceded by a 40-day fast, the concert recordings are strung together with spoken prayers and petitions, and the tone of the record is unapologetically angry conservatism. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez minimize