If I were to write my own dictionary, and in that dictionary, I were to define the word "connected," I would make sure that there was an illustration to show what a real connection was. That illustration would be this album. We know that's not going to happen, of course. Writing a dictionary is way too much work.

There's a new voice aboard this time around... since Derek Webb left the group and they found themselves without a writer and singer, Andrew Osenga, formerly of the Normals, picked up the duty. He seems to have filled in well, co-writing 6 of the songs and singing on quite a few more than that. It seems to be a good fit. Osenga is a bit different than Webb, but it's in a good way. I always thought that Cliff and Derek's voices were pretty close to the same, where Andrew's is noticeably different. It's a whole new sound for the group.

Caedmon's Call has always been one of my favorite bands, but no album they've done has moved me quite like this one. There's a common thread in this music that goes beyond being a Christian and way beyond making an album. Caedmon's has found a new heart in this effort, and it doesn't have a lot to do with clever lyrics and catchy harmonies. It has to do with loving people. It has so much to do with that, in fact, that it's almost intimidating.

Caedmon's took a few weeks and toured the world to make this album. Not the whole world, per se, but parts of it contained in some poorer areas of India, Ecuador, and Brazil. What happened was something perhaps Caedmon's was not even expecting... they picked up a new cause. It's quite obvious that the horrible conditions that the Dalit people of India (called the untouchables) left a lasting impression on the artists, and they make a bold statement against the caste system in the process. "Dalit Hymn" cries out (in English and Hindi), "Free the Dalit/ Caste is a lie/ God made every man forward and free." Normally, I don't get into albums that make such a bold effort at something political, but there's something beyond political there. As I said earlier, it's more about loving people. It seems fairly obvious that to ostracize an entire race of people isn't doing that. Caedmon's got a real heart for those people, and challenge the rest of us to do the same.

In addition to this new call for Caedmon's, they also picked up a whole bevy of new instruments. Todd, Garett, and Josh have a whole slew of instruments next to their name in the album credits... most of which, we English-speaking-types are going to get easily confused with viruses. (And some more common... Garett plays the "water pail") The result is a very, very appealing sound that will surely push Caedmon's out of the exclusively Christian market into the secular and world music market. Taking a message of love with them may be just the thing to more perfectly model the love of Christ.

It's not all about agenda, though. The (obviously) Indian-influenced "Mother India" is a heartbreaking apology to God that we have "not believed/ I have groaned and grieved... I forgot your grace." Of this song, co-writer Andrew Osenga writes in the album inlay, "After the first few days in India, seeing a couple different cities, and all the poverty, but all the beauty there, I wanted to write something that would hopefully sound as huge as the experience. I think that the greatest joy comes from the greatest sadness, and I love how joyful the end of the song became, because of the dirt and tears in the beginning." Indeed, that is what the song is about... rising on the wings of grace and finding a greater joy than was previously possible.

Also catching my attention were the whomping world beat of the title track, the catch and upbeat "Volcanoland," and the Caedmon's classical- sounding "There's Only One (Holy One)." "There's Only One" is the only song that retains much of the old Caedmon's. I'd have to wonder if it was even written before they went on this trip. It's all good, though, the new and the old. Much recommended. If you get this album, though, don't look for a favorite song right off the bat. Make sure you listen to the whole album. It's not one complete thought, it's a multi-point sermon on love and our freedom in Christ.