I'll confess, I'd heard of Rivertribe about a year ago, but it had been described as "Christian music" to me and well to be honest, my reaction to that was "Keep it the fuck away from me!" I don't like, nor ever will like what it termed Christian music. End of story.
But the story began again a couple of weeks ago when I was at the local craft market with my mother (this is a monthly mother/daughter thing, not that you needed to know) and we were pouring through and over various sequin-encrusted, handmade baby booties and embroidered teatowels when the most amazing, serene and beautiful sound I ever heard started to play.
I looked around, frantic, for the source of the sound and wasn't too surprised to see that in the usual "music spot" of the market, was a group of four men, one with a set of congo drums, another behind some big piece of sound-making shanannigans, another with a didgeridoo and another guy with a violin. I stood entranced as they played and filled the entire market with sound. A number of people stopped to listen, all mirroring the same ecstatic expression on my own face.
Imagine my surprise when I saw the banner on the ground - Rivertribe. Once I'd picked my wayward jaw up off the ground I hazarded a wander over to the tent and listened for a little while longer before turning my cutest puppy eyes over to my mother and begging (quite pathetically) for the CD for Christmas. She did buy it for me and even gave it to me that day so I could listen to it (she was hoping it might inspire me to clean my house, go figure).
The music itself is very ethereal and surreal as well as earthy and natural. Those familiar with Mike Oldfield (of Tubular Bells fame) would enjoy the the bringing together of different sounds to create a pleasing cacophony of rhythm, melody and music that Rivertribe brings to their music. It's Oldfield all over again, only an indigenous tribal sound created with everything from Irish pipes to the humble Aussie didgeridoo and natural sound which has made them quite famous in world music circles around the globe.
(And in my opinion, this is not Christian music. They're using their God-given gifts and talents to create a meditative sound and harmony, but it's never what I have considered Christian music to be.)
Oh, and they've got a Christmas CD out too which my mother bought - it's fabulous!
Article comments
1 - Jo
hi, i was looking up rivertribe to see if they had any new cds and read your blog,i have 'did you feel the mountains tremble' and listen to it often. it's playing now as i type, in fact. i think rivertribe is one of my favourite bands. i just thought i would let you know that the song did you feel the mountains tremble as well as some others from the cd are songs written by other, dare i say, christians, they have beautiful words, and rivertribe has used them giving them their own unique, awesome sound. also not all christain music or christians are the same, but we are all human just like anyone, we make mistakes, we love, we weep, we have hopes and failures. the main thing about us though is that we love the one we believe created us, and we believe He loves you too.
2 - Richard
I too first heard Rivertribe at the usual "Music Spot" at Queen Victoria Market, unlike Ren I had never heard them before. Like Ren I stood close and listened in wonder at what I was hearing. I knew nothing of who they were but loved what I was hearing.
Form memory the first CD was about $15 at the market that day. Mike Lane was playing and sitting close to the CD table, as I went forward with $20 in hand, he lifted a stack of CD's so I could put my $20 note down with the rest of the money. The notes had been held down from the wind by the CD stack. I exchanged my $20 for $5 before Mike put the stack down again with his free hand, I took a CD and all the while Mike Lane had this beaming smile.
It was only later as I listened to the CD that I read the paper insert and discovered these guys to be men of faith in the God of Israel.
Maybe Rens comment on Rivertribe's music not being Christian music should read "In my Opinion this is not religious music". If this were Rens intent then there is agreement from me. Too much of Christianity is based in tradition and is religious and is not based upon the word of God. From a music perspective we expect a traditional sound from religious music and Rivertribe is not that sound. However their music is a gift to humanity, I love their obedience.
Like Jo, they are a favorite of mine as well.
Rich.