Captivated

iTunes Review

Nicole C. Mullen is no stranger to worship music — her song “Redeemer” became an instant standard of the genre over a decade ago. Captivated, finds her recording an entire album’s worth of worship material for the first time. Producer Ed Cash (Chris Tomlin, Matthew West) enhances the singer/songwriter’s trademark mix of old-school soul, pop, folk and traditional gospel elements with sparkling production. As before, Mullen brings natural warmth to her performances, whether she’s diving into upbeat funk (“I Can Do”), gliding upon airy acoustic currents (“Holy Captivated”) or praying to a reggae beat (“My Shepherd”). Ballads are not neglected either, with “Kingdom Come” standing out for its yearning fervor. The Katinas join her for the slinky, Spirit-filled “Lead Me” and Chris August lends his voice to the gently grooving “I Need You (As The Deer).” All of the above are rendered with an easy yet passionate style that underplays Mullen’s considerable vocal range.