Acoustic guitar with a voice as deep and warm as the one accompanying it leads one’s ears into 11 tracks of melodic bliss laced with continuity. This compilation of sonorous and resonant sounds make up Counter Intelligence, the newest release from Grayslake musician Carl Hauck. While all of Hauck’s music has always held a certain quality of excellence, his newest musical endeavor shows a graceful gain of maturity which surely has come with the experience of the few years since his last release, Something to Laugh About in 2005.
Counter Intelligence is best enjoyed someplace warm and secluded, with a set of headphones turn up just enough for the music to entirely envelope one’s ears. The quality of Hauck’s voice is simply one that feels trustable, and to call it soothing is an understatement. Combining the ease of his voice with fellow musician Molly Robison’s on “Herrick You Devil!” [myspace.com/mollyrobison] leads to a smooth fusion of talent, sure to be enjoyed by long time fans of both and new comers alike. As well as the peaceful quality that comes with Carl Hauck’s voice, this album, much like Carl’s previous work, is full of melodious and pleasing guitar parts that are well beyond your standard three chord progression.
While most of this album is slow and easy, it does pick up with tracks like “The Rebel”, which encompasses piano and harmonica with Carl’s staple guitar, and a bouncy, almost theatrical rhythm. “Zhuangwho” also has a very rhythmic flow attached to its lyrics, which is a contrast to the measured and easy sound that is normally a given in any song written by Hauck.
Lyrically this album carries a theme of travel and discovery, however different the situations each song is applied to may be. With lines such as: “A vendor selling seeds to men to plant for future Eden”, and “It’s our name, it’s our name, that we’re harboring/Candor’s youthful sentiments remain in thoughts unspoken/The fragile is only noticed when it’s broken” This album seems to be written about journeys, and where each of our own and Carl’s may be headed.
The sound quality of this record is best described as silky, which is even more impressive after learning that Carl recorded this album himself. A true sign of being a multifaceted artist, Carl’s talents like in a multitude of concentrations.
In layman’s terms Counter Intelligence is a means to prevent hostile or enemy intelligence agencies from collecting information against an intelligence organization. In Carl Hauck terms Counter Intelligence is a means to slow the world down for the listener, and open all trains of thought to a peaceful mind. Which in its own way, really is preventing whatever kind of hostile intelligence may be ailing its audience from taking too much away from anyone listening to this album.
While most of this album is slow and easy, it does pick up with tracks like “The Rebel”, which encompasses piano and harmonica with Carl’s staple guitar, and a bouncy, almost theatrical rhythm. “Zhuangwho” also has a very rhythmic flow attached to its lyrics, which is a contrast to the measured and easy sound that is normally a given in any song written by Hauck.
Lyrically this album carries a theme of travel and discovery, however different the situations each song is applied to may be. With lines such as: “A vendor selling seeds to men to plant for future Eden”, and “It’s our name, it’s our name, that we’re harboring/Candor’s youthful sentiments remain in thoughts unspoken/The fragile is only noticed when it’s broken” This album seems to be written about journeys, and where each of our own and Carl’s may be headed.
The sound quality of this record is best described as silky, which is even more impressive after learning that Carl recorded this album himself. A true sign of being a multifaceted artist, Carl’s talents like in a multitude of concentrations.
In layman’s terms Counter Intelligence is a means to prevent hostile or enemy intelligence agencies from collecting information against an intelligence organization. In Carl Hauck terms Counter Intelligence is a means to slow the world down for the listener, and open all trains of thought to a peaceful mind. Which in its own way, really is preventing whatever kind of hostile intelligence may be ailing its audience from taking too much away from anyone listening to this album.
