Andrew Peterson Set To Release 'Far Country'

NASHVILLE, TN. (Fervent Records) - His sixth album, The Far Country borrows its name from a quote by Meister Eckhart, a sixteenth-century German spiritual teacher: 'God is at home. We are in the far country.'

'It expressed so simply the way I feel about life on this earth, and my heart resounded with the truth of it,' recalls Peterson. 'I loved the way it turned my thinking on its end; we usually think of Heaven as the far country, a cloudy, ethereal place, an eternal church service, which sounds about as appealing as traffic school.

'C.S. Lewis said that all of our desires, for acceptance, intimacy, rest, work, satisfaction, beauty are, at their root, desires for heaven.'

The Far Country was co-produced by Peterson and bandmate Ben Shive with help from Andrew Osenga (Caedmon's Call). Consistent with Peterson's prior national releases (Carried Along, Clear to Venus, Love and Thunder and Behold The Lamb of God), the new project features hammered dulcimer, bouzouki, piano, mandolin and acoustic guitar.

Featured on the project is renowned vocalist Jill Phillips, bassist Danny O'Lannerghty (Rich Mullins's Liturgy/Legacy), percussionist Ken Lewis (Michael Card) and bluegrass fiddler Stuart Duncan (Emmylou Harris). Motown gospel singers Anklejelly Jones and Jimmy Hoyt-Washington further provided soulful vocals on 'All Shall Be Well.' Another highlight is Peterson's co-write with critically-acclaimed folk talent Pierce Pettis on the song titled 'More.'