Half Mile Home – Church Musik & Inspiration

Half Mile Home

Select-O-Hits/Church Boy Musik (2012)

By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog

Last November, Ohio-based trio Half Mile Home released Church Musik & Inspiration, an album showcasing two sides of their musical style.

Member Terence Burton described that style as “Rhythm & Light.  We definitely have rhythm, and we’re trying to show our light.”  Essentially, they have fused their church background–a non-denominational church “with a real foot-stomping atmosphere”—to their soul/funk roots as Solar Records recording artist 1-900 and experience working with some of R&B’s leading artists.

The Church Musik portion contains plenty of muscular singing, which is particularly effective on “So Good,” the trio’s extroverted reworking of Billy Preston’s “Nothing From Nothing.”  “Super Jesus” pays homage to He who is better than any superhero, “because He’s real.”  The album includes the group’s 2010 single, “Change My Lyfe,” as well as a newer live version.  Although the live recording contains the passionate testimony that audiences love, the studio version has more kick.  “Won’t Let Him Go” is a foot-tapping quartet drive song, uniquely suited to the trio’s meaty vocalizing.

The six tracks that comprise the Inspiration portion are R&B dipped in electronica and driven by heavy beats.  As such, it has plenty in common with the trio’s previous album, 2010’s Change My Lyfe, though some of the Inspiration selections lack the sparkle of the earlier offering.

Having said that, “Time,” from the Inspirational portion, is one of the album’s best selections, a wistful elegy about days slipping by too quickly.  “Even When,” also from Inspiration, is a melodic ballad about God’s fatherly love with equally lovely vocal harmonies.  Had the vocals not been burdened with a heavy musical backdrop, it could have been one of the best tracks on the CD.  It might be worth a remix down the road.

For more information about the group check out TBGB’s interview here: Half Mile Home.

Picks: “So Good,” “Time.”