Oceans (EP)

Oceans
EP by
Hillsong United
Released10 September 2013
Recorded2013
GenreContemporary worship music
Length43:47
LabelHillsong Australia Centroamerica
ProducerMichael Guy Chislett
Hillsong United chronology
In a Valley by the Sea
(2007) 		Oceans
(2013) 		Empires
(2015)

Oceans is the third EP by Australian worship band Hillsong United. The EP released on 10 September 2013, and features four versions of the song, "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)",[1] including the album version, as found on Zion. (February 2013)[2][3] The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Christian Songs chart at the end of 2013.[4] Billboard referred to the band's name as "United" on the chart.[2]

Background

The song was one of the first ones the band wrote for Zion.[5] Breathecast described the other versions of the song as follows: "The latter [second] version strips away a little of the cinematic strings effect as well as the extended bridge of the original. Rather, imbued with a acerbic drumming pattern and heftier production, it certainly has the package Christian radio is looking for. The Lark Remix which is third on the EP accelerates the tempo morphing this ballad into a club-like anthem with pacey dance beats, yet without destroying the reverential mode of the song." He said of the fourth live version: "It is the most worshipful version".[6]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Indie Vision Music[7]
Louder than the Music[8]

Jonathan Andre of Indie Vision Music called "Oceans" "a classic worship song" but advised "the casual listener" to stream the songs first before buying the EP and said "if I were to pick between this EP and another EP full of 5 brand new worship songs, I’d pick the other EP."[7] Louder than the Music reviewer Jono Davies also questioned the need of releasing several versions of "Oceans" while he noted that the song is "powerful".[8] Timothy Yap of Breathecast applauded the lyrics: "Such a progression of faith within the unfolding of the song moving from fear to faith to triumphantly walking upon our 'oceans' is what makes this song such a stellar example of the craft of song writing."[6]

Track listing

Oceans EP[1]
No.TitleLength
1."Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" (Album version)8:56
2."Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" (Radio version)4:09
3."Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" (Lark remix version)5:15
4."Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" (Live at Red Rocks)9:49
Notes
  • Matt Crocker, Joel Houston and Salomon Ligthelm wrote the song, and Taya Smith is the worship leader.

References

  1. ^ a b "iTunes (U.S.) - Music - Hillsong UNITED - Oceans - EP". iTunes (U.S.). 10 September 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Zion - Hillsong United | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  3. ^ "Oceans – Hillsong United". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  4. ^ "Christian Songs chart". Billboard. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  5. ^ hillsongunitedTV (29 April 2013). "Oceans Song Story - Hillsong UNITED". Youtube.com. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  6. ^ a b Yap, Timothy (15 September 2014). "Hillsong United "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" EP Review". Breathecast. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  7. ^ a b Andre, Jonathan (16 September 2013). "Oceans EP". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  8. ^ a b Davies, Jono. "Reviews – Hillsong United – Oceans EP". Louder than the Music. Retrieved 27 June 2014.