God Help Us by Larry Karpenko sounds like a silent storm enveloping you in a blanket of bare emotions and spiritual desperation that keeps on haunting you long after the last note. Being a person who is always attracted by the music which sounds like a sincere talk, this song attracted me by the first step with its uncomplicated attitude- simple and yet very touching. Karpenko creates a song that is both intimate and universal, as he combines the themes of perseverance and optimism in a manner that reflects the most difficult situations of life and yet looks beyond them.
It is the type of melody that you cannot forget, that you can very easily sing along to, the sort of melody that practically cries out to be sung around a campfire or at a party. It is available but not too slick which lends to its authenticity. Supported by gospel choir hums that grow in volume like a choir in full song, and barely noticeable ambient rain noises that lends an element of reflection, the production is intimate as though Karpenko is revealing a personal part of himself directly to the listener. It has a rhythm of battle-cry underneath it all, slow and persistent, hammering home the message of the song about unity and divine guidance.
What really sticks with me is the fact that Karpenko is inspired by real life, his meeting Marlanna Evans (or Rapsody as she is known) at a music event inspired this piece, and her influence of telling a story through struggle and reconnection is all over this song. He seems to be directing that power into a prayer of strength, with biblical undertone, which is not too overwhelming, but only makes the emotional core rich. The dream of artistic legacies in prayer over a city skyline? It comes out as a sound that is uplifting yet at the same time grounded, which reminds us of the strength in vulnerability.
Amidst all the shiny tracks out there, it is the real heart in "God Help Us". It is the song that you listen to when you are in need of a reminder that we are all in this together as we all look to the light in the darkness. What Karpenko has given is timeless, a source of hope and endurance that is like a hug. And when you want music that has some real meat, this one is a must-hear--it touched me in places I did not know I had, and I think it will do the same to you.
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