Danen Kane has been around for a while, but he's mostly managed to slip under the radar. Judging by the quality of his latest release, that could soon change.

Released in June, Love is Waiting is Kane's first full album release since 2006's She, and his major label debut. Some of the tracks on the album were also featured on the 2009 EP Awakening, so those who have followed his work will find Love is Waiting to be pretty familiar.

On his blog, Danen Kane told his fans, “I have spent more hours than I can count pouring myself into this thing. So many sleepless nights thinking about every detail. Every part. Every beat. Every sound.”

That is immediately apparent from the start of the first track, the vulnerable “I Found Love.” The song talks about the broken condition of a heart searching for love, the honest lyrics backed by Kane's incredibly expressive vocals.

Most of the tracks have a strong acoustic leaning, which gives them a more stripped down and accessible feel--more like a very polished living room jam session than an impressive studio creation. Danen Kane has a few tracks that break from the general laid-back feeling, notably the very catchy “Inheritance,” which feels almost jazz-influenced at times. Another stand-out track is “Lullaby for the Forgotten.” This track is primarily built on the interplay between a cello, piano, guitar, and a melody immediately reminiscent of childhood lullabies. The song speaks with hope to forgotten children around the world.

Other songs deal more directly with everyday struggles through the lens of faith. “Take it All Away” calls out the spiritual complacency that comes with being self-centered, and “Forgive” speaks about forgiving those who hurt us because of God's love. Each song is crafted around Danen Kane's strong vocals and his acoustic guitar.

Many of the tracks could be sung as worship songs, but they have an unusual element of raw, human honesty even in the midst of praise. It is an incredibly refreshing element to find, particularly on tracks like “Home”, “Awakening” and the upbeat “Alive.” These are tracks that are honest about the singer's broken condition, honest even about the things that get in the way of worship, while still talking about God's faithfulness and love.

Throughout the album, this honesty is one of the greatest strengths. A good example is found in the opening words of the song “Beautiful Mess,” when Kane sings: “Every day I wake to find You, every day I fall apart.”

The songs are honest also about joy, such as in the energetic “Every Day,” a tune that seems perfectly created for singing along. Another of the strengths here is the extreme attention to detail. Every song displays a musical craftsmanship that is often lacking in a world of over-produced songs and rushed albums.

Danen Kane displays a mastery of his art hardened and sharpened by many long years on the road. Whether in acoustic tracks like the searching “Home” and more typical pop-formatted tracks like “You Came For Me,” every element of the instrumentation and the lyrics feels incredibly well crafted.

Closing Thoughts
Love Is Waiting is a very strong release, both in regards to the quality of the music and the content of the lyrics. Every single song feels incredibly genuine—hopeful and yet tempered with vulnerable brokenness. It's definitely worth looking into for anyone who enjoys worship music, acoustic music, or very well-crafted songs in general. I could see several of these tracks doing well on the radio, and I very much hope they do. Danen Kane is an artist who needs to be put on the map.