Music can be highly subjective as it is based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions, therefore I’ll certainly understand if this album by Mike Lindup does not connect with you. Allow me to opine as to why it does connect with me. First, a bit of backstory. Mike was a founding member of one of my favorite 1980’s bands Level 42. His falsetto voice in unmistakable if you’ve ever heard their music. That’s connection #1. Recently I was perusing the endless archives of Spotify and came across his album Changes. Upon further review of its musical personnel, I was pleasantly surprised to learn Manu Katche is featured on the drums. Manu has his own distinctive style which can be heard on albums by Peter Gabriel, Sting, and Tears For Fears to name a few. He is a French drummer and songwriter of Ivorian descent. That’s connection #2.
What I found interesting was the very first track which begins a capella with the lyrics.
Let faith be my shield
And let joy be my steed
'Gainst the dragons of anger
The ogres of greed
And let me set free
With the sword of my youth
From the castle of darkness
The power of the truth
I was immediately drawn to a number of Biblical undertones in the lyrics, however their use here are more properly defined as a syncretism, an amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought. For me, it brought me to a musical happy place, connection #3, so I listened on:
I've struggled as a man
To figure out this life
And what I'm doing with the time
That I've been given
I search to find the reasons
For the wrong and for the right
And it's clear the status quo
I is the first thing that must go
Far away the spirit guides me
Speaks in tongues I understand
Far away the spirit calls to me
A message for the common man
Let faith be my shield
And let joy be my steed
'Gainst the dragons of anger
The ogres of greed
And let me set free
With the sword of my youth
From the castle of darkness
The power of the truth
Then I listened to another song entitled “The Spirit Is Free”:
He's living in a land where hope
Is the only thing keeping the spirit afloat
And every night he prays to the Lord
To keep his fears at bay
She's living in a land where dreams
Are the only escape from the chains of reality
And every night she prays to the Lord
To wash her tears away
Mike (perhaps unknowingly?) drew upon a few biblical verses to round out his message: We must take up the shield of faith, with which we can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Ephesians 6:16. and The word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12. This for me is another example of a soul seeking for the truth but the Truth appears to elude them. Mike is correct in in the reality that for those seeking ultimate truth, “I” is the first thing that must go, however it remains unclear as to if Mike found the solution in Jesus Christ. We will not find the answers to what ails our souls until we look up and humbly pray our Creator opens our eyes to His Truth, the truth which provides eternal comfort for our souls. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Ps. 19:1). I pray that Mike and many others like him do find and come to know the Lord.
Take a listen. I think you’ll enjoy the cleverly crafted music.
Jim
Live version of The Spirit is Free: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoPk075EjpY