The album consists of modern arrangements of traditional Christian hymns.

[3] The first track starts out with a Kituba translation of Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior, a language singers and siblings Nicol and Todd Smith know because of a missionary upbringing in Subsaharan Africa.

[4] The band says that because they were on a very small budget for the album, they were forced to keep it simple, which explains the strong emphasis on vocals with piano.

While the production is sparse (piano and strings with occasional guitar and percussion), the performances are at once dynamic and soulful.

"[5] Steve Huey of Allmusic notes the "slight African sensibilities" in "the gospel stylings of Selah".