Reviews
COMMENT: Out of Borderland
An excerpt from the review in Faith Today
 ou'll hear a variety of music on Lianna Klassen's latest CD, Out of Borderland. The strongest cuts are clearly those with a Celtic flavour. Sometimes it's a sound that speaks of ancient times, and sometimes she captures the more contemporary Celtic sound made popular by artists such as Clannad.
The only cut on the CD that Klassen didn't have a hand in writing is "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" -performed here as a duet with Steve Bell. The rich atmospherics intermixed with Celtic flute are perfect with Klassen's strong voice, which carries a hint of an Irish lilt for this hymn. Although this is a much recorded song, Lianna Klassen's version is as appealing as any-even comparing favourably with that of the Celtic group Iona on their 1995 CD Journey Into The Morn.
Klassen captures something of Enya's sound (as heard on The Lord of The Rings soundtrack) on her "Song of Unity", Veni Sancte Spiritus" and "History Belongs." This last one, based on 2 Chronicles 7:14 ("If my people, who are called by my name.."), is a centrepiece of the album. Roy Salmond has contributed a superb arrangement.
Finally, the multilayered vocals of the almost wordless piece "Serendipity", are beautifully reminiscent of some of the finest moments on her recent Christmas CD, Once Upon A Time Forever After."
D.S. Martin - Faith Today.
[back to top] [back to music page]
REVIEW: Out of BorderlanD
Three CDs: all highly recommended - Carol Riediger
Mennonite Brethren Herald • Volume 44, No. 10 • July 22, 2005
Below is a segment of Carol's article...
 istening to Lianna Klassen’s newest CD, my spirit was led to a calm and quiet place, and encouraged to a deeper faith. I was captivated by the beautiful and soothing, yet moving, music and lyrics. Klassen, the sole writer for this album, was assisted by associate producer Roy Salmond. She also jointly produced “Serendipity” and “Song of Unity” with Adam Dickens.
I was intrigued by the great variety of instrumentation (including accordion, Spanish guitar, sitar and whistles, in addition to the basic contemporary sounds of drum, guitar and bass), all adding to the folk-like and Celtic flavour. Klassen’s lyrics speak of her deep walk with God. She is inspired by a variety of Scripture and delivers a haunting Latin prayer, “Veni Sancte Spiritus.”
Klassen’s vocal quality is warm and smooth and the harmonies are gorgeous. She adds the support of both a Calgary and Vancouver choir, along with other background vocals.
This album will probably be enjoyed by a variety of ages and wide range of musical tastes. I highly recommend it. Klassen’s desire is for people to come to know God and I was pleased that, in her CD jacket, she shares how to receive Christ. This album uplifts and affirms the faith of the believer, but would also be a great gift to pass on to the spiritual seeker.
Carol Riediger is a registered piano teacher who lives in Chilliwack, B.C. She works as a receptionist at the Health Unit and is involved in a variety of ministries at the Central Community Church.
[back to top] [back to music page]
REVIEW: Out of Borderland
Canadian Gospel Music Association
LIANNA KLASSEN "OUT OF BORDERLAND"
 raise and Worship/World Music veteran Lianna Klassen has long produced albums of wondrous musical variety and her latest out "Out of Borderland" is no exception.
With help from veterans like Roy Salmond, Graham Ord and Steve Bell (a duet on When I Survey The Wondrous Cross), Lianna further defines her unique niche in the fabric of Canadian music. Inspired in part by the book "Your God Is Too Safe" by Mark Buchanan, "Out of Borderland" is a nudge... perhaps even a kick out of complacency into a life of living in the "Holy Wild". Having spent a significant part of 2004 travelling around the world Lianna brings a real sense of newness to both her recording and her ministry. Not that she's abandoned her homeland. She recently took the main stage at Breakforth in Edmonton and is constantly zig-zagging across the country both as a world leader and a speaker.
[back to top] [back to music page]
REVIEW: Out of Borderland
Cross Rhythms
Genre: Celtic
Distribution: CMC Distribution (Canada)
Price: refer to distributor
Rating: 9 out of 10
Reviewed by: Mike Rimmer
Reviewed in Magazine Issue: 85
et's face it, some inspirational singers are anything but inspirational. Yeah they have the soaring voices but their choice of bland poppy arrangements become so predictable that.yawn..zzzzz. Not Lianna Klassen! Consistently this most inspirational singer has created touching songs that stir the deepest parts of the listener whilst making music that draws from a variety of places. For this latest album, she has concentrated on a sound which has more of a Celtic flavour than previous albums but is no less diverse for that. "Let All Who Have Breath" is a celebratory opening whilst her duet with fellow Canadian Steve Bell on a Celtic version of "When I Survey" is one of the album's highlights. There are lighter moments like the acoustic "Sing!" and the praise song "You Are God And You Are Wonderful" then heartfelt songs like "Travel With Me", "Song Of Unity" and "Veni Sancte Spiritus" which demonstrate Lianna's range as an artist and singer. Her voice is a beautiful expressive instrument and 'Out Of Borderland' is inspirational music as it should be.
Mike Rimmer is the Assistant Editor of Cross Rhythms magazine, produces and presents a daily radio programme on Europe wide Cross Rhythms. He manages CMBC Media Productions and freelances on a number of media projects including working for leading British label Word UK. He belongs to Church Alive in Birmingham, works amongst students in Birmingham and speaks at various churches and student events.
[back to top] [back to music page]
COMMENT: Out of Borderland
An excerpt from the review in CITY LIGHT NEWS, Calgary's Christian magazine.
 er fifth release, Out of Borderland is Lianna at her best. Humble, passionate, and truthful lyrics combine with world beat rhythms and Celtic flavored melodies to capture the listener in cascading layers of sound.
Lilting flutes and keyboard pads interwoven with angelic background vocals create a mood reminiscent of Enya on some tracks, then bouncing to upbeat praise songs, driven by acoustic guitars, backed by solid, interesting rhythm patterns.
A worship leader who now resides in Calgary, Lianna was born and raised in BC, and caught the music bug early on in life, performing at age eight and writing at age 14. Her life long love of music shows in the quality of the music and writing on Out of Borderland. It's on the softer side, but with a great message and great music. Mellow and cool.
[back to top] [back to music page]
REVIEW: Out of Borderland
Christian Week Magazine
Klassen pushes the borders
By Peter Fleck
Nov.26,2004 - Volume 18 Number 18
www.christianweek.org
 n today's Christian music landscape, Lianna Klassen stays off the super highways populated with artists trying to keep up to speed with the latest trends in the industry.
Hers is a road less travelled, combining a refreshing blend of Celtic and world music influences with a deep passion for Christ, intercession and worship.
The Calgarian's fifth and latest CD, Out of Borderland, stays the course of her previous releases, offering a musical journey replete with memorable moments.
One such attraction is "Veni Sancte Spiritus (Come Holy Spirit)," a Taizé-styled tapestry of praise in which Klassen interweaves 21 of her vocal tracks creating a total of seven harmonies.
Showing increased maturity and confidence, Klassen moves into the lead production position for the first time, relegating longtime producer Roy Salmond to the associate role.
Klassen also managed to secure the ever-popular Steve Bell to join her in a duet of "When I Survey The Wondrous Cross" that employs the hymn's original Scottish melody.
Among the most compelling musical compositions is "Song Of Unity" in which Klassen bears her heart for reconciliation among believers.
"The more I travel and the more I come into different church commmunities in the world, I realize that the only way we will bring Jesus to the Nations, is if the Church comes into unity and relationship with each other," she says.
Other songs on the disc include the praise anthem, "Let All Who Have Breath," the celebratory "Sing!," the 23d Psalm-inspired "My Shepherd," as well as "History Belongs," an ode to intercessors with an Enya-like musical score.
Perhaps the disc is best summed up by the title to the final song, "Serendipity," for there are many such moments on the project.
[back to top] [back to music page] |
Sometimes God gives a “word” or message through a song to a person or even a whole church community. My husband and I had started attending a small church that had been through much pain and hurt in the years past because of leadership abuse. I sensed that God wanted to bring them out of this place of mourning. He lead me to a passage of Isaiah that talks to the barren one, that the time for mourning was turning to joy and that “the gate is closed and the road ahead, is teaming with life and with expectation.” 
I’ve always wanted to record with Steve Bell, and when God brought this song to me, I knew it would make a perfect duet. It is and old Scottish traditional melody, which will be unfamiliar to most North American audiences, but well known in the U.K. I used a drone to give the song a haunting space and brought in the marching snare to symbolize the armies of God through the ages, and the penny whistle to honor the Celtic church.
This is my granola chick song! When I was a teenager, in Bible School at Capernwray, England, I learned this great tune and never forgot the riff at the beginning of the song. So, I thought, why not steal it, and create a new tune around it! So here I had this tune, but no words and no inspiration. So I went to my divine cop out...the scriptures! When I prayed about it, the Lord said to go to Psalm 23 (one of the most used psalms in any song). I said to God “How am I going to write anything new from this Psalm that’s not already been said?!” God told me to pull out all my translations, and He would supply the words. In studio, we tried a number of things to make it less “70’s” and ended up just recording guitars, ukulele and stand up bass. It’s one of my favorite songs!
