The Hope and the Glory

Survivor Records is proud to announce the debut album from a raw new talent, Ian Yates. And it’s not just the sound that’s fresh – Ian’s backstory is as authentic as they come.

The son of a Pentecostal minister of a church in Bootle, Liverpool, Ian has grown up used to the idea that Christians – and the churches they form – should be fully engaged with the communities that surround them. And the fact that the community which surrounds Bootle Elim Pentecostal Church has experienced some of the highest levels of unemployment in the UK means that Ian has seen at first hand just how much of an impact the church can make.

But what does this matter to a collection of eleven tracks from a first time artist? It matters because that first time artist has turned out eleven tracks that are so full of truth and life and honesty and a cry for God that can only come out of experience. The Hope And The Glory may have been recorded in a studio, but it was written on the streets.

From the brooding atmospherics of ‘Broken’ and ‘Carry Me’ to the passion of ‘Desperate’ and ‘Crying Out’ Ian’s songs have that unique quality of being instantly familiar and appealing even at the first listen. Think Hillsong United and Kings of Leon after a two-week missions trip.

The Hope And The Glory grew out of a fairly unlikely beginning. Two years ago Ian’s brother prompted him to submit some of his home-grown, home-sung songs for a forthcoming Soul Survivor People’s Album. Ian did and the response was about as good as it could have been: two tracks made it onto the album - ‘Desperate To See Your Glory’ and ‘No One Like You’.

After that Ian’s song ‘Father Of Compassion’ was then featured on the Survivor Summer Sampler as a bonus track, and a mini album started to form in the minds of Ian and Survivor Records A&R Adrian Thompson:

“When I first met Ian I saw a deep and rare combination - a deep yearning after God’s inner dwelling, a young life that had experienced and witnessed hardships beyond his years and a massive understanding of the spiritual impact of worship.  Ian lives and worships in one of the UK’s most depressed areas, so when he worships with a cry for God to break through and his heart for worship it really is ‘rubber hitting the road’.  An honest and raw worshipper.”

Working with producer Trevor Michael, that mini album grew into a fully-grown affair – fully-grown with degrees of both maturity and passion that are rare finds in debut albums these days.

BIO:

Two years ago Ian Yates was a young worship leader committed to a small church set in the middle of one of the UK’s areas of highest unemployment. Today, little has changed: the youth, energy and optimism is as fresh as ever, the church is still made up of a dedicated band of believers serving a community that is now struggling more than most with the recession. Ian Yates is still worshipping.

The only difference is that now the songs that have emerged from Ian’s guitar are starting to travel a little further than the front of Bootle Elim Pentecostal Church. And with The Hope And The Glory - his debut album - getting released in spring 2010, Ian Yates’s songs are about to do a whole load more travelling.

Ian’s take on the two-year period up to the album’s release tells us a lot about the man:

‘Around early 2008 my brother told me that Soul Survivor were asking for songs for a new Peoples album. I only had a week to get them in, but I managed to send them a couple. Somehow they got picked, which was really, really cool! 

‘I then met with Adrian Thompson (A&R Survivor Records) and he asked if I wanted to record one of the tracks to see how it turned out. That was released on the Survivor sampler and then in early 09 Adrian called and asked if I would be interested in a doing a mini-album with them. It kind of grew into this one – The Hope And The Glory - which was amazing!

‘I know it’s a big step of faith for Survivor because I’m unknown and I don’t go to a huge church. Trevor Michael (producer) has had a huge amount to do with the album. He really believed in the songs, and he was so great to work with. I’m hugely grateful to Adrian and Trev for the opportunity!’

But if Ian’s feeling humbled and grateful, the feelings coming back from Survivor are mutual. Across the album Ian’s heart is clear: there’s a profound sense of his longing for God’s Spirit to break through and transform broken lives. Even the song titles are enough to prove it: ‘Desperate’, ‘Crying Out’, ‘Carry Me’ and ‘Take My Life’. Engagement and encounter are the first things on the menu.

Ian’s musical affections land him somewhere between Kings of Leon and Hillsong United, where it’s the crescendo to the chorus that unleashes the power.

‘I think it all started after seeing Delirious live and then listening to Live And In The Can around 1996. That really inspired me to start a band, but it also set off this longing to see God move in power like in Acts 2.’

Ian After a six-year journey with a band (Seraphim) ended in 2004, Ian found that the desire to worship was just as strong as it had ever been. Incessant songwriting seems to be the natural outworking of a heart that’s truly passionate about giving God his worth:

‘One of my major passions is that when we worship the presence of God falls. I think when we see this it changes the atmosphere, changes lives. I’m hungry for more and more of that. Hungry to see God move in power, hungry to see the lost come to faith.’

Reviews:

Review from http://www.ganney.karoo.net/nfn.htm

Young Bootle-based worship leader Ian Yates started his musical journey back in the 1996 after hearing Delirious live in concert, inspiring him to start a band Seraphim which ended in 2004. His passion for worship still burned & he had an independent release in 2007 entitled "Desperate to see Your Glory", but it wasn't until 2008 when Ian's brother told him that Soul Survivor were looking for tracks for a new People's Album that a major label picked up on his talent. A couple of his tracks were picked, the A&R man met up with him & the rest is fast becoming history. Ian cites musical influences as Delirious & Matt Redman, but from listening to these tracks there's more than just a subtle hint of Kings of Leon plus even some U2 in the mix. The opening track "Take my Life" is a real prime example - a new take on a classic hymn with the chorus & intros being Kings of Leon slightly manic "Sex on Fire" drums overlaid with U2 'jangly' guitars reminiscent of "Beautiful Day" - a highly effective combo giving bucket loads of energy and bringing out the passion in the lyrics. Unlike a great many worship albums that seem to follow a "loud to start with then go quieter after 2/3 tracks so we can be more worshipful" formula, the energy continues aplenty until midway through the album when things do calm a little when we reach "Broken" where the lyrics pack as much of a punch as the drummer's kick! The band manages to keep the music very much alive in every track which lifts the words right up where they need to be, as they're so full of raw passion. Even the classics such as "Here is Love" get a new lease of life! It is so obvious that God has had a real impact on Ian's writing & there's no sense of performance through any of this whatsoever. It's also fantastic to see someone that isn't from one of the big churches well known for producing worship leaders to make it up to the front. I look forward to hearing much more from Ian in years to come - keep it up! 10/10 Simon Redfern

Review from www.louderthanthemusic.com

For a young British worship leader, Ian Yates has already had his fair share of experience. Following several independent releases, including his 2007 album 'Desperate To See Your Glory', two of Ian's songs were picked to be included on Soul Survivor's 'The People's Album 3' and later on the Survivor Summer Sampler CD. Ian leads worship at Bootle Elim Pentecostal Church in Liverpool, where he no doubt has plenty of opportunities to hone his musical skills.

'Take My Life' opens the album, heavily laden with guitars and changing pace between fast and a more contemplative style. "Take my life and let it be holy Lord, pleasing to Thee" sings Ian, sounding like a slightly rockier version of Tim Hughes, with the guitar and drum sound of a decent rock band.

As its name suggests, 'Desperate' is a cry of desperation to see God's glory. Great guitar riffs and lots of clashing cymbals makes it quite Snow Patrol sounding, whereas 'Father Of Compassion' moves into the Delirious style of music. Guitars, layered with drums and very worshipful lyrics.

'Glorious Bride' is another great rock track with driving guitars and frantic drumming, talking about the bride of Christ. Fast and fantastic. Then 'Great Is Your Power' is slower and perhaps more of a sing-along track than the rock-styled opening songs: "Oh Lord our God how awesome is Your name in all the earth, Great is Your Power, Great are Your ways..." as the lyrics continue to list the ways in which God is great.

Opening with a gentle riff and drum beat, 'Broken' builds a somber atmosphere as Ian sings about broken families and broken hearts, before moving on to a chorus where he sings "But I see hope" as the music soars and lifts the tempo accordingly.

Musically, 'Carry Me' is a much more simple song, relying on Ian strong vocals and the drums until the guitars finally make their main appearance later in the track. 'We Are Righteous' is a slow burner, taking its time to build, but with nearly 8 minutes granted to it on this album, the slow start is used to good affect. The indie sounding music sits behind the repeated chorus of "We are righteous through the blood of Christ".

The opening guiar riffs of 'Crying Out' instantly stand out and made it my favourite song on the album. The song showcases the album well, allowing Ian's vocals room to show their strength. A great worship song accompanied by top quality musicianship.

Another great worship moment on this album is the chorus in 'You Are Faithful', which could almost be a song in itself. "You are faithful, You are steadfast. You are faithful, You are with us...". The album ends with a brilliant version of the old hymn 'Here Is Love Vast As The Ocean', giving it a modern twist with a stunning instrumental ending.

'The Hope And The Glory' is more the kind of album you expect to get from a full on rock band than a solo worship leader. For the most part, these may not be songs you're going to sing along to in church, but they're certainly fantastic to listen to at home. Picking the best three songs was no easy task, which is always the sign of a great album. If you like your worship with a healthy serving of guitars and rock n' roll, buy this album.

Review by Dave Wood

LTTM Rating 4 out of 5 Stars

Standout Tracks

Crying Out

Take My Life

Father Of Compassion