Young Man Follow

For his first full-length project in five years, Christian singer/songwriter Eric Owyoung (a.k.a. Future of Forestry) goes for a lush, rhythmically driven sound that’s at once rarified and accessible. Young Man Follow extends the lyrical themes of his Travel EPs with songs that depict spiritual journeys and homecomings. Owyoung’s mellifluent vocals shift easily from the stately croon of “Would You Come Home” to the sweet, ethereal tones of “As It Was.” He varies his production strategies as well, embracing widescreen Simon & Garfunkel–esque pop (“Things We Should Say”) and boisterous Mumford & Sons–like folk (“Love Be Your Mantra”) with equal conviction. Whether the music is intimate or grandiose, the message is consistently positive, both when Owyoung is speaking with the voice of divine compassion (“You”) and offering a hosanna of praise (“Someone”). The sleekly gliding “Chariots” beckons the faithful heavenward with an insistent techno pulse. Young Man Follow tempers its artistic ambition with a humility and generosity of spirit that reaches out to the listener.