Bob Couchenour is a fascinating musician. He's a grey-bearded guitarist who looks a little like Jerry Garcia, which makes sense when you also consider that The Grateful Dead is one of his musical influences. Couchenour loves his extended instrumental jams just as much as The Dead did. But while The Dead was enthralled by the music (and possibly the drugs), Couchenour is filled with the Spirit and getting high on God whenever he's playing his emotive guitar.

The best news of all is that Couchenour doesn’t perform wimpy Jesus pop music, or “to hell with the devil” Christian metal. He let’s his improvisatory guitar work do all the talking instead, and he never preaches. The opening track on this four-song release, a tune titled “The Sound – The Search – Primal Longings,” is a little bit of Pink Floyd mood music, with a touch of bassist Jah Wobble’s ambient vibe mixed in. It moves to a techno, ambient groove, highlighted by plenty of echoing guitars.

In contrast, “The Sound – Faith In Motion” is faster, with a driving guitar melody that sounds like something out of an action movie. One called “After The Flood” is a little eerie, quite honestly. It causes one to envision what the world must have been like after all the turmoil caused by divine global flooding. Couchenour accomplishes this early civilization mood with sliding guitar lines, which may remind you of a George Harrison instrumental.

This CD’s quietest moment is called “The Sound – Ninety-One,” which is a track Couchenour describes as what “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” might have sounded like, had Martin Luther written it in smooth jazz style. Sorry, but I have trouble imagining Mr. Luther in a Kenny G mode.

Those who keep close tabs on the Christian music scene will quickly and happily recognize that Couchenour is unique. On many Christian recordings, music takes a back seat to the gospel message. In the grand evangelistic scheme of things, this approach makes some sense. But from an artistic perspective, it can also lead to a lot of second rate rock & roll. The Sound 1.0 is filled with highly creative musicianship, whether you buy into Couchenour’s Christian message or not.

http://www.soundclick.com/pro/view/01/default.cfm?bandID=278813

Bob is a very productive musician (this is his third solo CD along with innumerable other music related project/productions and 10 children), producer and educator who has been plying his trade in the Washington D.C. area for over 40 years. In 2005 he started his own company Bob Couchenour Musical Productions to pursue “opportunities to engage in professional music and guitar related interests. (Guitar Instrumentalist, Band member, Band Leader, Session Musician, Guitar Teacher, Music Theory Teacher as relates to guitar, Music production, Music promotion)”. Bob is a self taught player who lists Jerry Garcia, fellow hometown hero Roy Buchanan, Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler as his main guitar influences.

There are only four tracks on this 54 minute CD. The first “The Sound – The Search – Primal Longings” clocks in at a staggering 27 minutes! The first half of that becomes however a rather long winded build up of spacey slide guitar over a tribal sort of rhythm track. After the track finally starts cooking (the second half) it is sometimes reminiscent of the softer instrumental side of Wishbone Ash. The other tracks are more uplifting, well produced with understated clean reverbed guitar passages occasionally bringing to mind David Gilmour, Mark Knopfler and more frequently the longer jam style of the Grateful Dead. If you are a fan of alternative country based blues or bluegrass music this CD will be a nice addition to your collection.

Track Listing
1 The Sound - The Search - Primal Longings - 27:03
2 The Sound - Faith In Motion - 10:40
3 After The Flood - 6:26
4 The Sound - Ninety One - 9:24:00

Added: April 7th 2006

Score: ***

Overall Review

You know, in many ways this disc breaks a lot of rules. Frankly, instrumental music in my opinion can be boring. Music that doesn't change in terms of structure has an even greater tendency to suffer from that affliction. Well, this is all instrumental music, and the four songs on here are each based on one basic song structure. In fact, in terms of the first three it's a fairly simple one. Yet Couchenour manages through advantageous use of soloing and melodic lines over the top to create a disc that doesn't put you to sleep. When you figure that the first cut on the album is nearly half an hour in length this is even more impressive. This music would be great to just sit back and relax to, or have on in the background. It is probably most closely related to progressive rock - hence the inclusion in that section of MSJ - but there are also elements of jazz and new age music here. He may break all the rules, but Couchenour does it with style. I guess it should be mentioned that this is Christian music, but with instrumentals, how can you really tell. For more information or to get the CD, stop by Couchenour's website.

Track by Track Review

The Sound - The Search - Primal Longings:

This leads off with a rather funky groove. Other sounds come over the top of this backdrop after a time and the track gradually begins building on these musical themes. This is a wandering sort of guitar based prog instrumental jam. It doesn't move far from it's basis, in fact the rhythm elements remain pretty much unchanged, but there are layers upon layers of varying element laid on top of this throughout it's duration. Frankly, at over 27 minutes it could have benefited from some variants in the overall song structure, but the spacey jamming never leaves you wanting.

The Sound - Faith In Motion:

At less than half the length of the previous piece, this one is still a rather massive one at over ten minutes. It has another solid groove backing up some inspired instrumental work. It's another smoking guitar prog instrumental. Once again, it could have used a few changes in structure, but manages to hold the interest throughout based on the layers of soloing.

After The Flood:

Rhythm starts this one off. Then a pretty ballad like melody joins in to carry it while other musical elements work their way over the top. This one feels a bit like Pink Floyd at times to me, but there are also hints of country music and blues on show here. While this one again only has one musical format, at less than seven minutes in length, this is less of a detriment here.

The Sound - Ninety One:

The final cut on the disc clocks in at a little less than ten minutes. In terms of general song structure it is also the most interesting on show here. At least there is more substance to the basic track over which all the instrumentation plays. This one has a bit of a jazz feel to it. It's a pretty and rather invigorating jam. There still aren't a lot of changes to the central structure, but this one is a bit more intricate to begin.

©2006, Music Street Journal