Darnell Davis and the Remnant “Moving Forward” Album Review

The Bible is proliferated with a thesaurus of words that have to do with new beginnings.  Salvation, for instance, is sometimes referred to as being born again.  Being a Christian is to be a new creation; and other eternal hope is sometimes called "a new heaven and earth."  This is because at the heart of the Christian Gospel, God wants us to leave our sinful past behind.  And by faith in His Son as both Lord and Savior we can begin afresh again.  This theme is at the cynosure of Darnell Davis and the Remnant's brand new effort "Moving Forward."  Many of the songs on this 12-song set deal with the issues of having our sins forgiven, trusting in God's promises and venturing forth into the future with confidence in Jesus Christ.  And "Moving Forward" is also a new beginning for Davis and his team.  After 3 independently released albums, this is their debut release for RCA Inspiration Records (Hezekiah Walker, Latice Crawford).    

Being a prolific writer himself, Davis has had written songs for Ricky Dillard, Sounds of Blackness and Wayman Tisdale.  It is therefore no surprise to see his deft song writing finger prints everywhere on this record.  "Nothing" opens the album on a high note: with an adrenaline rush of energy, Davis brings us back to the words of the Apostle Paul from Romans 8:35 that "nothing can separate us from God."  Sometimes one of the greatest deterrents that give pause to our stridency in our walk towards God is Satan himself.  "It Won't Work" finds Davis and his 20-voiced the Remnant combating the Evil One with the only formidable weapon and that is God's promises as contained in Scripture.  Davis preaches his way through "I Live to Worship You" as the Remnants indulge us in some old school R&B balladry styled worship.

Lead single and title cut "Moving Forward" is streaked with everything it takes to make it a hit except that it struggles desperately to anchor on a hook that somehow elusively escapes.  Much better served as a potential single candidate is the gorgeous ballad "So in Love with You."  In our idolatrous world of self-made human beings, it takes faith to vacate our pride and utter these words of dependence on Jesus.  Featuring label mate and Sunday Best finalist Latice Crawford, "Change Your Situation" showcases what a stellar vocalist Crawford is with her sultry power pipes. Mixing sharp piercing drums with gentle strums of the acoustic guitar, "Only You" is modern slice of neo-acoustic pop finding Davis in his most intimate best in what is a tete a tete between Davis and the Savior.

"We Got the Victory" and "Praise Him" are fine displays of Davis and the Remnant's passion in worship.  However, the generic nature of these lyrics with lots of recycled clichés thrown in strip them of their immediacy and impact.  Though there are ebbs and flows, "Moving Forward" is still a heartfelt worship project that gives us the more needed push as we move forward with God in faith and confidence.

Tags : darnell davis & the remnant darnell davis Latice Crawford Moving Forward