The Pressing In by Eliza King
A stunning and honest debut from one of Australia's most captivating indie worship voices.
Hi Pal,
Before we get into it, I’d like to welcome all the new subscribers. I got an early bird copy of the new album by Eliza King and that’s why we are here today. Release Date: 1st March, 2024.
A few years ago, in my quest to discover the more creative and musically expressive corners of Christian music, I was beginning to lean into the idea that it was impossible to be highly artistic and still focus on reverent worship. In 2021, Eliza King was one of the voices I came across who helped convince me that it is possible to do both.
My first experiences with her music were Risen Man and Feel Holy. These two singles, along with other songs released in 2022, became the EP, A Fire Making Holy Ground. The project left a mark on me and since that time, I had been anticipating a new EP or album.
The album begins with ‘My Beloved’, a tune inspired by Song of Solomon 6:3 and it sets a tone conceptually for the rest of this journey. It is a piano-led ballad that speaks about leaning and resting on Christ our beloved. Through the lyrics, she does well to convey images of a relationship with a real and personal Lord that demands commitment and devotion from us.
‘My Help Comes’ which features Ben Potter, is another tune inspired by scripture — Psalm 121. Musically, it has strong chamber folk sensibilities, with its lush and swelling strings interwoven beautifully with simple strums and warm keys. Ben and Eliza also complement each other vocally in spectacular fashion. I have a particularly strong love for male and female voices singing the same notes on different octaves and the sections where they did that here are my favourites on the song.
‘Prayerlessness’ is a song of repentance for attempting to go through life without communion with God. It is a folk tune that is full of recognizable biblical references scattered among the lyrics. Most importantly, it is a song with a message that all Christians can connect with as we have found ourselves in these situations at different points of everyday life.
God forgive me of my insolence, of my prayerlessness born of pride
Oh God forgive me when I rush ahead setting my own terms and my own times
These words are a poignant reminder and it makes this tune one of the most important ones on this album.
In some ways, ‘Olive Grove’ is the heart of this album and it’s not just because it contains the album name within its lyrics. The song draws inspiration from the events that occurred in the Garden of Gethsemane between Jesus and His disciples when He asked them to pray and they fell asleep. It then pivots and uses this event as a foundation to remind the believer today of the return of Christ, drawing references from different portions of scripture and reminding us of the need to be alert, awake and burning as the bride when He returns. This carefully crafted narrative is placed on a canvas of soothing keys and strings.
Anyone who has been caught up in religious work or activities and has had their relationship with God suffer as a result will connect with ‘The Better Thing’. I’m not sure there is a song on this album that gave me a more visceral reaction than this one because it’s a reflection of a place I often find myself. The title of the track is pulled directly from the conversation between Jesus, Mary and Martha in Luke 10:41-42 where Mary chose to spend time with Jesus and Martha chose to be in the kitchen cooking for Him. As the song clearly states, ‘there is always good work to be done’ but it cannot take the place of the relationship. These simple words capture the essence of this tune beautifully;
I’m learning just to enjoy You
Sometimes forget I’m allowed to
‘Nothing Is Wasted’ works as an outro to the previous tune and an instrumental interlude that ushers us to the final portion of this journey. ‘Save Me’ is a worship ballad that reminds us of the wonderful sacrifice of Christ and the salvation He has bought for us by His blood. It features Tenielle Neda, and their harmonies make the song memorable.
‘A Thousand Different Ways’ follows up on the themes of the previous track as a song of thanksgiving for all the ways Jesus has saved and rescued us. One of the unique things about Eliza King’s writing style is the way she can have unique outro portions or brief B-sides within a song that elevate it significantly. It’s something I have noticed time and time again in her songs but this is the one that has had the most profound effect on me so far.
I never knew that I could be this free
Till Jesus started healing me
I didn’t know I could feel so alive
Till Jesus came and washed me white
‘All I Have Left’ features Wilder Adkins and it is a song of dependency and trust in the Lord. I particularly enjoyed how Wilder uses his lower register for the majority of the song and how it juxtaposes with Eliza’s light tone. When he finally climbs to his normal voice, it has a climaxing effect on the song that is very satisfying. ‘Narrow Road’ is the song that made me realize that this album was going to be a special experience when it was first released. As a single, it did all that it was meant to do in building my anticipation for the album and the more I have listened to it, the more I am appreciative of the ways that Eliza King reflects the brutal trust that is necessary for us to truly live this Christian life.
‘Foolish & Ruined’ concludes this journey with a song that reflects the Biblical story of Mary, the precious ointment and Jesus recorded in multiple portions of the gospels. Lyrically, it feels like a B-side to ‘The Better Thing’ as the words, “love can look strange to religion” act as a continuation to some of the themes reflected in the former song. Kate Gurren lends her vocals to this one and the interplay of their voices makes for an ethereal listening experience.
There aren’t many artists that have left an impression on me the way Eliza King has. For that reason, it may be difficult for some to read a review like this and see the objectivity of my thoughts. Still, I believe this is essentially what a review is supposed to do. Music is fundamentally a subjective experience, it has to find its right audience to truly be appreciated and without a doubt, I am Eliza King’s audience.
If you’re looking for scripturally inspired lyrics blended with honest and reflective worship, eclectic songwriting and a calming instrumental backdrop, you are Eliza King’s audience too and you should be listening.
Genre(s): Indie Worship, Indie Folk
Release Date: 1st March, 2024
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That’s it for today.
Catch you soon!
Feel free to leave a comment. Also, I am always open to hearing from you so feel free to send an email to me at stismavo@gmail.com