 Bob Couchenour
 The Sound 1.0
 Review by Gary Hill

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.
This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2006 Volume 3 at lulu.com/strangesound.
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