Recently the Merseyside-based Daval Music Limited (DML) commenced business with an initial batch of album releases. These albums represent contemporary Christian music, prophetic praise and golden oldie evergreens. Owner of DML is Norman Barratt who Cross Rhythms magazine recently described as "a rock gospel legend who made a gigantic contribution to the growth of CCM in the '80s." With major financial backing, and its own fully operational recording studio, DML will be distributed in Britain via mail order and worldwide on the Internet.
The first of the high quality DML releases are: 'Work Of Art' by Liverpool worship leader Pete Caulfield (who previously recorded for Alliance Music). 'Look Down On Us' by new singer/songwriter Andy Thomson, and a reissue of the CCM classic 'Playing In The City' by the Barratt Band, which in 1981 was voted Best Christian Rock Album for that year, and has never been available on CD until now. A new album from Alwyn Wall (of Malcolm & Alwyn fame) entitled 'Jesus said' is available and a brand new album from the Barratt Band will shortly be released.
Said Norman Barratt about DML, "When I left Vertigo Records to come into Christian music in the '70s our music was viewed with a great deal of suspicion by the Church. Today, both the prophetic nature of contemporary worship, and the potential of modern music to speak to a whole generation with a radical spiritual message, has convinced many believers that CCM is surely one of God's strategies for this time. At DML we have always believed this to be true. We need to send the people we work with out and around this country to share the gospel with unbelievers. To that end DML has purchased a 10k PA and stage lighting rig in order to keep down the costs of doing concerts and outreaches. It is essential, however, that the creative and business structures put in place to record and market this music, be fully accountable to the local church and run on Kingdom of God principles. That is why every major decision made at DML is taken after full consultation with the elders at Newton le Willows Christian Fellowship".
"DML has the financial backing and creative sensibility to serve Christ in the international Christian music scene and we are being led in a new way of doing business with our brothers and sisters the Artists, and our brothers and sisters the Customers. Our Lord is shaping something very fresh and exciting in music today and I'm personally very humbled that I, and my colleagues at DML, have a part to play in it."
