What's in a name? Ask FFH - Essential Record's latest contribution to the vanguard of modern Christian music - and the answer is a lot. Like most of their fellow spiritual seekers on this planet, FFH is indeed miles, and years, away from its eternal place of rest. And like almost any successful band, the four-member group knows a lot more about motels, airports and tour buses than anything approaching the comforts of home. Yet with its major-label debut, Take Me As I Am - The EP, FFH has already found a strong earthly identity, and forged a singular sound and a solid sense of purpose. With richly textured voices, and ringing, propelling guitars intertwined with both rock-solid backbeats and drum loops, FFH stakes out a distinctive, acoustic-based vocal sound. And professing the goal of making music that is "cross-generational," - aimed at bringing children and parents together around music that is relevant to both - FFH has put itself out on a limb where most artists dare not venture. And it works . . . amazingly and compellingly.
If comparisons must be made, one would be close to the mark putting FFH in the company of such diverse acts as Caedman's Call and 4 Him, with echoes of Crosby, Stills & Nash, Kansas and other patriarchs of '70s acoustic/rock movement ringing somewhere off in the distance. But with poignant lyrics that are often achingly honest expressions of despair, disappointment, love, hope and redemption, FFH zeroes in on a common corner of the human heart.
"So Is His Love" is an exhilarating song of praise for today's church, with solid bass, drums and guitars undergirding the group's signature vocal sound and a melody that is instantly memorable. "Big Fish" weds an infectious, sing-along chorus with clever, allegorical lyrics to a rollicking, percussive rhythm section. The vocal interplay illustrates the tight harmonies that have existed between the group's members who wrote or co-wrote nine of the album's ten songs. Enlisting the aid of only one independent radio promoter, the group released a single of what is now the title song of the new EP. "Take Me As I Am," is a jubilant celebration of God's unconditional love that had unprecedented radio success. The song went "Top 10" on the CHR charts and "Top 20" in the Adult Contemporary market making it one of the highest charting singles from an independent act in the history of Christian radio.
"'Take Me as I Am' was one of the last songs to get picked for the record, but we're sure glad it made it," says Jeromy. "A few months before we started recording, we began performing 'Take Me' live in our acoustic set. Crowds loved singing along with the catchy melody, and started asking where they could find the song. We all enjoyed playing and singing the song so we decided to give the people what they wanted, and added the song to the record. 'Take Me As I Am' is a simple, fun praise tune with lyrics that express an attitude of daily worship to Jesus Christ."
It came as no surprise when major record labels began actively courting the group. But with a clear definition of both its music and mission, and a remarkable, self-built, grassroots fan-base, FFH was in no hurry to change its way of doing things. Only when Essential Records approached the band with an offer of complete creative autonomy and a platform to readily carry them to masses did the foursome feel a sense of peace in partnering with a large and powerful corporation.
FFH's first complete, major-label studio album - already in the works and set for a Fall '98 release - will include strong new material, as well as the best of both Take Me As I Am - The EP and One of these Days. And while the group says it will continue to aim its message and ministry squarely at the Church, they don't for a minute see that as merely "preaching to the choir."
"We have been in a lot of churches in the last few years," says Jeromy, "and we know firsthand that there are a lot of people sitting in the pews on Sunday who don't know Jesus Christ. And there are also believers who know they can bring unchurched friends to our shows - confident they'll get into the music - and then let the Lord move however He chooses in that person's life. We always have a time in our concerts when anyone is invited to receive Christ, and the numbers of people who accept that invitation night-after-night are almost staggering.
"Our primary purpose is to reach as many people for Jesus Christ as we can, as quickly as possible," Jeromy concludes, "and we've found our mission field right inside the walls of our own Churches."
Discography
Go to FFH's Website
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