I find this a fascinating album, because so much thought, not just emotion, went into it -- yes, with the art and craft, but also in the brilliant ordering of the songs. And I wonder if there isn't more to it than your brief blurb mentions -- for example, your first comment about melancholy: how do worship and melancholy fit together? If you just characterize it as 'melancholy', you miss the intriguing challenge Mr. Ortega faced in writing current-day liturgical music, music for the Anglican worship service, now that he is at an Anglican church. He's taken ancient liturgy and given it fresh, musical insights. People love to sing this service music -- as a congregation. Young people stand up straighter and sing it out. These songs do not 'double' as worship music; they are worship music, used weekly in church. They are simply gorgeous, but they're not long-distance love letters -- they're vibrant and meaty songs for direct worship of our God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.