The Lower Lights convened in fall 2009 for five days of recording. The goal was to dive into the hymns– familiar hymns, overlooked hymns, Hank Williams hymns, and more– and connect with them on a deeper level. Drawing equal parts reverence and celebration from the rich well of hymns, we ended up with 30-plus songs that felt part-revival, part-vigil. And we ended up with more than just an album. We ended up with an experience.Listen to the songs and suddenly you’re there: a few people are in the studio hallway working out a candlelit arrangement to Jesus Savior Pilot Me while in the main studio no fewer than 15 people record a spirited version of Israel, Israel, God Is Calling, making a choir out of anyone not holding an instrument. Somebody’s flipping through an old hymnal A couple of guys tune a marxophone with a wrench. Spontaneous handclapping breaks out. And another song is crossed off the chalkboard.