Music review: Out Of The Dark By Mandisa
Music review: Out Of The Dark By Mandisa
16 December 2017
Reviewed by Colin Lane
Well here’s an album full of honesty – Mandisa’s latest release Out Of The Dark is deeply personal. 
The four years since her last release have obviously been a rough journey, trying to cope with the death of a close friend, and we get a sense of the battle from the opening 'track’ – a series of urgent voicemails from her family and friends clearly worried about her.
This leads into I’m Still Here and Out Of The Dark, two of a number of tracks that testify to coming back from the pit of despair, through God’s power and grace and the love and support of those close to her, to a place of hope. Unfinished and Comeback Kid continue the theme.
In the piano-led ballad Prove Me Wrong we hear her hurt and the bewilderment experienced when God doesn’t seem to answer the prayers we pray over loved ones as she cries to God, “You could have healed her”.
A highlight is the Toby Mac duet Bleed The Same, bookended with prayers by Kirk Franklin. It’s one of the best songs I’ve heard written about racism, with powerful lines supporting the title like “we're all the same on the inside.", "We're more beautiful when we come together," and, "If we're gonna fight/Let's fight for each other."
Most of the songs have a bouncy soul/pop feel and the production quality is exceptional. Scripture verses are listed for each song on the CD version lyric sheet. The deluxe edition has three bonus tracks, all great songs – in fact there isn’t a poor track on the whole album.
For anyone who is going through a tough period, or who has emerged out the other side, this album will quickly become a favourite as you find yourself resonating with where Mandisa has been, and celebrating the hope and ‘salvation’ that comes on the other side through God’s sustaining power. Highly recommended.
Out Of the Dark is on iTunes and is available at Koorong.
Captain Colin Lane is the Corps Officer at Frankston Corps, Victoria.
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