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There aren't a whole lot of Christian club DJs, let alone one that's been able to impact the world to the degree of England's Andy Hunter. The forerunner has been a headliner within the U.K. club scene for the last several years, releasing his 2002 debut Exodus on both Sparrow and secular label Nettwerk America. Tracks from that repertoire have ended up in films like The Matrix: Reloaded, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider 2 and The Recruit, along with ABC's "Alias" and MTV's "Tough Enough." Despite all that secular exposure, Hunter's music remains quite faith-centric.

Though his second offering Life is being marketed as an EP, the six songs average 6-8 minutes each; do the math, and that's more music than other full-length discs. On the CD, Hunter's relevance behind the turntables and programming co-exists with an unhindered ministry platform—like in "Come On," an explosive tune in which Hunter references the Lord's Prayer with mantra-like doses of the phrase "your kingdom come." Even more overt is the comparatively subdued, praise tinged "Wonderful," which blends lines like, "You're beautiful, you're the reason why/So wonderful, you make me high" with ethereal arrangements.

"Open My Eyes" develops an instrumental '80s feel reminiscent of New Order or Pet Shop Boys. "Life Light" and "To Life to Love" jump back into the present, recalling the likes of The Chemical Brothers, Prodigy or BT. But "Alive" is the album's most life-affirming cut, during which Hunter actually samples his son's heartbeat while still in the womb. All of these clever and inspiring ideas translate to an EP that's not just some tease until the next album, but rather an essential addition to any dance/electronica collection.

© Andy Argyrakis, subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.

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