Code fans weren't the only ones itching to get back on the dancefloor. Nine long years had elapsed since
Barry Blaze's band hung it up, and in that time the amount of contemporary Christian electronic dance music had dwindled significantly. It was easy, therefore, to say it was worth the wait for
Lost in Egypt, a diverse treatment in what is now a lost art. The mood ranges from dance electronica to light industrial, breezing between the stylings of
Depeche Mode,
Black Lab,
Erasure, and
Cause & Effect. Buoyant one minute then ambient the next,
Egypt serves well those who miss the days of authentic dancehall fare. Though the absence of production partner Tedd T (
Mute Math,
Rebecca St. James) is notable, the album still sounds natural with
Blaze turning knobs himself. Highlights include the title track, which describes being lost in sin, and his spot-on cover of
Depeche Mode's "People Are People," a surprisingly perfect fit on a Christian album. ~ Jared Johnson