A little while ago, former guitarist Joseph Kisselburgh left his previous band Falling Up. He felt led to pursue his dreams of becoming a solo artist and sharing his thoughts and passions with the world around him. That dream has become a reality, and Joe and his new band, The Send, are set to debut with their release, Cosmos.

The sweet, alluring sounds of electric riffs and ambient vocals fill the air on "Need," a song that declares God as the ultimate source of our provision and security. Following the opening track is "Fairweather," a declaration that displays how a relationship with God is what will carry us through when fake friends stab us in the back, "You are the One who will keep me breathing, when all I have been is hurt by fairweather friends." The hit single, "An Epiphany," outlines how Jesus' love makes the purpose and meaning of life crystal clear for us, while "Blocking The Sun" relies on trust in God to help us make the right choices and decisions. The captivating mood of "Begin" is somewhat "hymn-like," both musically and vocally, with the lyrical message being a cry directed toward God to begin and resume working in our lives.

"The Fall" reminds us how things around us seem to unravel whenever God is absent from the picture ("Everything falls apart, when You're not here everything falls apart..."), whereas "Drown" could be referred to as a desperate cry for salvation. The mesmerizing disposition of "Santiam" revels in the presence of God and the immensity of His awesome power, with Kisselburgh's signature voice blended in for an added touch. "The Science Of The Sky" illustrates an intriguing longing for God to speak, while the message of "Dawn And Dusk" portrays the difficult choice to live for God or to live for ourselves and how we are often torn between the two.

The soft, acoustic "Say" could be a love ballad penned for a special girl or for God, depending on how the listener interprets the song. "Fire Colors" symbolizes the simple and blatant truth: life is short, and we need to make the most of it, while the melodic finale "In Repose" depicts how we all seem to fall asleep spiritually at times, yet we need to be willing to turn our hearts back to our Creator ("You know my heart is falling asleep...and I know my heart has fallen asleep, But You'll still remain, and I'll change to see You").

While Cosmos isn't as aggressive and somewhat raucious like music you would expect to be produced from a Falling Up project, the record is still dynamic as well as refreshing. Its craftsmanship is incomparable and practically screams recognition and acknowledgement. What makes this LP even more appealing and ear-pleasing is the fact that almost every song on the album hints at God and His love in some shape or form, bringing spirituality into the mix. Another impressive feature is that the majority of the instruments and vocals are played and sung by Kisselburgh himself. As someone who's enjoyed Joseph's previous venture, Falling Up, it may be biased to say this, but Cosmos is definitely out of this world.

- Review date: 6/10/07, PReview date: 5/29/07, written by Laura Sproull