Capture Me

Sounds like … British musical inspirations from Keane and Coldplay collide with the vertical approach of Phil Wickham and Charlie Hall.

At a glance … The solo debut of Farewell Down's singer takes an unusually artful approach to worship couched within singer/songwriter sensibilities.

As a member of Farewell Down, singer/songwriter/worship leader Joe Henschel was a staple of the San Diego Christian music scene (that also birthed Switchfoot and Nickel Creek) while he also expanding his reach through band mission trips to England and Russia. Along the way, the music industry hopeful hooked up producer Jonathan MacIntosh (Sarah MacIntosh, Luna Halo). With the producer's prompting, Henschel crafted a vertical collection of worship songs for MacIntosh's {L}istener Records.

Capture Me certainly channels Henschel's artistic influences (including the Brit-rock appeal of Coldplay and Keane), but also takes cues from Charlie Hall, Phil Wickham, Jason Morant, and Tim Hughes in eloquently expressing lyrics of praise. Centered in chilling acoustics and inspiring harmonies reminiscent of Chris Tomlin, "Creation Cries Out," focuses on declaring Christ's holiness. The glorious pop track "Grace Falls" switches gears ever so slightly to offer thanks for the Lord's unconditional redemption amid sublime guitars and strings. Add in the congregational cries of "You Never Let Go," the escalating art rocker "My Heart Speaks," and a lush title track, and Henschel captivates listeners with both creative execution and reflective centering.

For more information on Joe Henschel, visit www.myspace.com/joehenschelmusic.