ALBUM OF THE MONTH
JENNY PEGG : Standing on the Edge of Tomorrow. (www.jennypegg.com)
Two years after her excellent debut, Sheffield’s Jenny Pegg is back with a 6 song EP that traces her journey with God. The first, two songs are superb. “Lift You High” is all about honouring God, and has a great singalong chorus. Meanwhie, “I Surrender” tells of being set free, and giving everything to the Lord. Musically, I thought that this song had everything, and I was soon tapping my feet to the rhythm. Jenny’s vocals are as strong as ever, and they rise majestically on “When I Fell Into the Night.” It’s a song about going through despair, learning to trust, and ultimate freedom. For anyone going through depression, it’s a moving and encouraging song. Musically, production is good throughout, but on “Kingdom of His Love” Jenny relies on just her piano to relate the truth that God’s love is for everyone – no-one is excluded. As her own journey has progressed, she had to take a “leap of faith,” and that the theme of the song of the same name. Taking that leap is the first step to your future. And, so we come to the title track of the EP. In my own walk, it’s taken some time to finally let go of things in my past that weighed me down. Therefore, I can relate to this final song wholeheartedly, as Jenny sings for you to look forward, and leave the past behind. Vocally, this is Jenny’s strongest delivery and you can tell that she believes that this truth is for all. After such a tremendous debut recording, I wondered if she could hit the same heights again. I shouldn’t have worried. God has blessed Jenny with the right words and the right music to result in a fabulous release. 10/10.
JENNY PEGG : Remain. (www.soundconsultancy.co.uk)
Jenny Pegg is based in Sheffield, and has recently released this EP, containing 5 self-penned songs. She says; “This EP really is inspired by my own journey. I was diagnosed with a chronic illness 12 years ago, and the record is all about coming to terms with having it, and having it for life - unless healed by God.” ‘Cry for Redemption’ is about being trapped in a prison cell (her illness) and being lifted out of it by God’s love. It’s a lovely pop sound and her amazing vocals reminded me instantly of Susan Ashton. It was only when I read her press release that Jenny actually mentions Ashton as an influence during her teenage years! “I believe I will not be shaken, never forsaken”, are just a few of the personal lyrics of the title track. It’s a medium paced number that lends itself to collective praise and worship, unlike the other tracks. Moving, almost, into pop/rock territory, ‘I’ll Overcome’ has a terrific drumbeat, as Jenny’s vocals soar with the victory that comes with God rescuing her through adversity. Part of the success behind this EP are the personal lyrics, written by Jenny, and sung with such feeling, from her heart. The ballad, that is, ‘Lift My Face’ is a calmer sound, while ‘Release to Be’ opens with just a piano backing. The sound builds, without sounding cluttered, and finds Jenny singing about being at peace with who she is, and her life. It’s a poignant song, sung with real honesty, and has an uplifting sound to the chorus. This is quite a stunning EP, and my only disappointment was that there were only five songs. I, for one, can’t wait to hear more. 10/10. by Geoff Howlett, Never for Nothing Newsletter & BBC Radio Humberside
The debut EP from Sheffield’s Jenny Pegg, Remain is a 5-track collection of faith-filled songs delivered with honesty and power by the singer. The record is tied together by the theme of God’s love and hope in the face of adversity, nowhere more apparent than in opener Cry For Redemption. The lyrics are brilliantly visual, contrasting “a stone square prison” and “barbed wire” in the verses with the chorus, where “I’m carried to the meadow / and I’m breathing in
fresh air.” The title track is the most praise/worship styled of the collection, boasting an arrangement reminiscent of Hillsong’s finest. This is followed by I’ll Overcome, a triumphant song that again contrasts adversity with “the blessing of the Father / and the rescue of the Son”. There’s some great drumming courtesy of Aron Bicskey, and Jenny delivers one of the EP’s vocal highlights in the chorus. Stand-out track Lift My Face offers a gentler side to the listener. Piano-led and sparsely arranged, it allows the vivid words to take centre stage - including the gorgeous couplet “clinging tightly to my driftwood dreams / drained of fight and lost it seems / you lift my face.” The EP goes out on a positive high with Released to Be. Opening with just Jenny’s piano and voice, the song bursts into life in the first chorus, proclaiming “I’m chosen and loved / accepted and free.” It in many ways sums up the central message of what is undoubtedly a very accomplished debut. Ian Griffiths, Resound Media
JENNY PEGG : Standing on the Edge of Tomorrow. (www.jennypegg.com)
Two years after her excellent debut, Sheffield’s Jenny Pegg is back with a 6 song EP that traces her journey with God. The first, two songs are superb. “Lift You High” is all about honouring God, and has a great singalong chorus. Meanwhie, “I Surrender” tells of being set free, and giving everything to the Lord. Musically, I thought that this song had everything, and I was soon tapping my feet to the rhythm. Jenny’s vocals are as strong as ever, and they rise majestically on “When I Fell Into the Night.” It’s a song about going through despair, learning to trust, and ultimate freedom. For anyone going through depression, it’s a moving and encouraging song. Musically, production is good throughout, but on “Kingdom of His Love” Jenny relies on just her piano to relate the truth that God’s love is for everyone – no-one is excluded. As her own journey has progressed, she had to take a “leap of faith,” and that the theme of the song of the same name. Taking that leap is the first step to your future. And, so we come to the title track of the EP. In my own walk, it’s taken some time to finally let go of things in my past that weighed me down. Therefore, I can relate to this final song wholeheartedly, as Jenny sings for you to look forward, and leave the past behind. Vocally, this is Jenny’s strongest delivery and you can tell that she believes that this truth is for all. After such a tremendous debut recording, I wondered if she could hit the same heights again. I shouldn’t have worried. God has blessed Jenny with the right words and the right music to result in a fabulous release. 10/10.
JENNY PEGG : Remain. (www.soundconsultancy.co.uk)
Jenny Pegg is based in Sheffield, and has recently released this EP, containing 5 self-penned songs. She says; “This EP really is inspired by my own journey. I was diagnosed with a chronic illness 12 years ago, and the record is all about coming to terms with having it, and having it for life - unless healed by God.” ‘Cry for Redemption’ is about being trapped in a prison cell (her illness) and being lifted out of it by God’s love. It’s a lovely pop sound and her amazing vocals reminded me instantly of Susan Ashton. It was only when I read her press release that Jenny actually mentions Ashton as an influence during her teenage years! “I believe I will not be shaken, never forsaken”, are just a few of the personal lyrics of the title track. It’s a medium paced number that lends itself to collective praise and worship, unlike the other tracks. Moving, almost, into pop/rock territory, ‘I’ll Overcome’ has a terrific drumbeat, as Jenny’s vocals soar with the victory that comes with God rescuing her through adversity. Part of the success behind this EP are the personal lyrics, written by Jenny, and sung with such feeling, from her heart. The ballad, that is, ‘Lift My Face’ is a calmer sound, while ‘Release to Be’ opens with just a piano backing. The sound builds, without sounding cluttered, and finds Jenny singing about being at peace with who she is, and her life. It’s a poignant song, sung with real honesty, and has an uplifting sound to the chorus. This is quite a stunning EP, and my only disappointment was that there were only five songs. I, for one, can’t wait to hear more. 10/10. by Geoff Howlett, Never for Nothing Newsletter & BBC Radio Humberside
The debut EP from Sheffield’s Jenny Pegg, Remain is a 5-track collection of faith-filled songs delivered with honesty and power by the singer. The record is tied together by the theme of God’s love and hope in the face of adversity, nowhere more apparent than in opener Cry For Redemption. The lyrics are brilliantly visual, contrasting “a stone square prison” and “barbed wire” in the verses with the chorus, where “I’m carried to the meadow / and I’m breathing in
fresh air.” The title track is the most praise/worship styled of the collection, boasting an arrangement reminiscent of Hillsong’s finest. This is followed by I’ll Overcome, a triumphant song that again contrasts adversity with “the blessing of the Father / and the rescue of the Son”. There’s some great drumming courtesy of Aron Bicskey, and Jenny delivers one of the EP’s vocal highlights in the chorus. Stand-out track Lift My Face offers a gentler side to the listener. Piano-led and sparsely arranged, it allows the vivid words to take centre stage - including the gorgeous couplet “clinging tightly to my driftwood dreams / drained of fight and lost it seems / you lift my face.” The EP goes out on a positive high with Released to Be. Opening with just Jenny’s piano and voice, the song bursts into life in the first chorus, proclaiming “I’m chosen and loved / accepted and free.” It in many ways sums up the central message of what is undoubtedly a very accomplished debut. Ian Griffiths, Resound Media