Hello Maker by Bright City is a 10-track (48 minutes) love song to God. The album brings a bright and upbeat synth-pop vibe with slow but powerful worship songs that serve as intersessions. The entire album starts of slowly, building to an exciting peak of tempo and sound, before slowing things back down, only for the whole process to be repeated over again. A mixture of male and female vocals, coupled with catchy hooks and driving bass riffs tie the whole thing into a cohesive sound.

Track by track

Maker of the Moon opens the album on a gentle note. When I first listened to the song, it left me feeling like it was building to a crescendo that just never came. Despite this the lyrics really resonated with me, the focus on God at the centre of all creation really encapsulates what the album is about. When I listened to the album for a second time I realised that the song was building to a brilliant crescendo, it just wasn’t in this song.

You are the One Thing gives us a taste of the pop-synth sounds that will define the more upbeat songs found in Hello Maker . The song utilises powerful synth and a fun bass riff that lifts the whole thing up and sets Bright City apart from other worship-style bands.

. The song utilises powerful synth and a fun bass riff that lifts the whole thing up and sets apart from other worship-style bands. Father opens with a catchy tune and a solid beat that continues to bring up the tempo from the previous songs, and the bass line just made me want to dance. Compared to the songs previous to this, Father feels more stripped back/minimalist. Father is the height of the first half of the album.

Rock of our Salvation is perhaps the most “worship-song” styled song on the album, and just sort of felt out of place to me. While clearly within the Bright City style, they stray close to a style similar to Hillsong. This isn’t a criticism of Hillsong, but it just felt like I’ve heard it all before.

style, they stray close to a style similar to Hillsong. This isn’t a criticism of Hillsong, but it just felt like I’ve heard it all before. Come Holy Spirit brings the album back down to the starting tempo, and then slows it down further. It felt like it served as a break in the album, and allows the listener to centre themselves, and bring back the focus to God. This is a softly sung prayer born out of an overwhelming desire to experience God. Everytime I listen to this 7-minute plea for God I get goosebumps.

brings the album back down to the starting tempo, and then slows it down further. It felt like it served as a break in the album, and allows the listener to centre themselves, and bring back the focus to God. This is a softly sung prayer born out of an overwhelming desire to experience God. Everytime I listen to this 7-minute plea for God I get goosebumps. Your Love starts with a powerful bass that firmly declares the intention of the song. Once more we feel the tempo rise, in stark contrast to the song that came before it. Your Love is an unashamed worship song that practically begs the listener to shout out the lyrics.

Fly successfully manages to blend elements of pop, R&B and dance. While a fun and uplifting song, it certainly takes the biggest step away from the worship songs on the rest of the album.

You Reign is a great blend of melodic synth and driving bass that is coupled with a moving and powerful message. Serving as the crescendo of sound in the second half of the album, I couldn’t help but You Reign was the perfect example of what Bright City have done in this album. Coming away from Hello Maker this was certainly my favorite song, that I just had to go back and listen to again once I finished it the first time.

have done in this album. Coming away from this was certainly my favorite song, that I just had to go back and listen to again once I finished it the first time. Thank Y

ou marks the second descent in tempo, and begins to wrap up the second half of the album. The song leans heavily into the worship-style this time maintaining Bright City’s sound. Despite the slower pace, the song maintains an air of triumph.

ou marks the second descent in tempo, and begins to wrap up the second half of the album. The song leans heavily into the worship-style this time maintaining sound. Despite the slower pace, the song maintains an air of triumph. Song for a Dreamer is a relaxing pop song. While I did enjoy the song, it felt sort of average given the calibre of the other songs found on the album, and in an album full of catchy riffs and thumping bass this song sort of fell flat. I think part of my problem is that I wasn’t listening to this song while I was reclining on my sofa on a warm day as the air cooled after dusk.

Conclusion

Hello Maker makes a promise in the opening song, a promise of triumphant music and loud, powerful music, and even though that opening song maintains a slower pace, the a

lbum follows through. As with every album not every song was faultless, but there is certainly enough here to more than compensate for the weaker songs. Once I was finished listening to the album, I went through it 3 more times on the same day to get a better feel for the music on offer.

As I write this review it is with the instrumental ending of A Song for Dreamers playing, and I am left wanting to start the album over again, and to feel the gentle build up to the crashing sounds. This is an album of powerful lows, and roaring highs. It is a love letter to God, one of overwhelming joy, and unquenchable thirst.