Album review: Amy Grant – In Motion – The Remixes

Amy Grant may seem a tad wholesome, but In Motion proves that posititve lyrics and a wicked beat can quench the thirst of any rave fan.

In Motion: The Remixes by Amy Grant. Sparrow / Capitol / AP Photo

AP

Amy Grant

In Motion – The Remixes (Sparrow / Capitol)

Three stars

Amy Grant has never shied away from experimentation and change. Having transformed herself from devout singer-songwriter to an upbeat pop star more than 20 years ago, she now leaps from the reflective tone of recent work to the electronic dance-music beat of In Motion – The Remixes, which gives a glow-stick tweak to her catalogue of hits. A Christian music star who balances sensitive reflection with positive celebration, Grant might seem a tad wholesome for dance music's hedonistic culture. But In Motion proves that positive lyrics set to a wicked beat can provide the juice to quench a raver's thirst. Some of Grant's repertoire easily adapts to the remix concept: Dave Aude's ramped up Baby Baby capitalises on the sunny energy of the 1991 hit. Similarly, Every Heartbeat lends itself well to the hyper-drive of the electronic duo Moto Blanco. But other cuts required more ingenuity. Tony Moran and Warren Rigg are surprisingly sublime in retooling the emotionally layered Stay For a While. The same goes for probing Grant gems such as That's What Love Is For (by the producer Chris Cox) and the more recent Better Than a Hallelujah. Grant has never taken the expected path – and once again creates an unexpected triumph.