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The View From Here  (2007)

Reviews

From Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com
Refreshing Solo Acoustic Stylings . . .
I suppose if there was a successor to the legendary Michael Hedges, the mantle would most likely have passed on to another Michael; Michael Mucklow. His stylings embody the same ethereal feel, to his playing that many of us found so engaging in Hedges. Hedges in his earliest days blew the roof off that silly "New Age" concept. Mucklow does much the same in his alternate tunings and beautiful arrangements. I can't begin to speak to the technical side of his playing. But as a friend once said to me "Good is where you find it." and I found it here. So sit back, find yourself a nice place you wish to visit and let Michael take you there on a lovely musical journey that sounds every bit as rewarding as the turns that another Michael gave us years ago.
~ J.L. Smith (Detroit)

Indie In Tune
http://www.indieintune.com
Call me a mindless brute, but I’m always a bit unsure when I hear people describing music as “relaxing” or “soothing”. Yes, a lot of great music does indeed have those qualities, but when those are the main ideas that you can throw around about a song, then usually the words “boring” or “hippie” (in a bad, whale-sounds album kinda way) come trailing right behind. Fortunately, in the case of Michael Mucklow, a guitarist from Yucca Valley, California, that association couldn’t be further from the truth. Michael has a background in hard rock and punk bands, where he has perfected his guitar playing, making him a very versatile performer, and the way his solo acoustic songs flow, you can tell that this is a man whose guitar already functions as an extension of himself. Since he has started to write and record on his own, he has already released two records – “Clearly” and “The View From Here”, and on these releases it’s clear how heartfelt these songs really are.

Each of the songs works as a sort of individual little world, slowly but surely developing and very evocative. More than peaceful, Michael’s songs are inspiring, as it’s easy to close your eyes and imagine the picture that his strings are painting through sound. It’s interesting to note that although Michael does possess a strong religious faith, this notion is not overbearing, and nor does it take place above the music, in his songwriting, which is a very worthy approach. Not only these peaks and valleys of acoustic guitar sound are peaceful, but the feeling that you get when you listen to them is that they are written and played by someone who is very peaceful himself.

Peaceful, yes, delicate, surely, but at the same time not always goody-goody – the world is not just light, and the darkness creeps in sometimes, as does the sadness and every other feeling that is worthy of being represented like this. Take a song like “Tears Of The Wind”, in which Michael’s dabblings in more aggressive music have left him an accurate ear to represent the shadier side of his heart, it’s a brooding song that could well serve as an interlude on a metal band album, for example.

Sit back, relax, and take a look (and a listen) at “The View From Here”. You’ll like it, you’ll see.
~ Review by José Carlos Santos

Indie-Music.com
http://www.indie-music.com
The View from Here, Michael Mucklow’s latest CD, is an instrumental travel guide through (the) Yucca Valley of California. Mucklow states in his biography that one of his influences was Acoustic Alchemy, and after hearing his wonderful guitar picking style, I can see the correlation.

Mucklow tries to paint pictures in the listener’s mind with his guitar as his brush and the CD as his canvas. He gives a little “behind the songs” information for each song, which I didn’t look at until after I had heard the entire CD for the first time. Then, I had to agree with almost every “behind the songs” scene that was painted in my mind.

Mucklow states that the word “phosphor” means “to bring light”, and his song “Phosphor” does just that -— allow the listener to visualize a happy, bright time. “Mysterium” speaks that life is a mystery, and the picking style is one that is dark and ominous. “Released” was written after the passing of a friend of Mucklow’s. This song brought out both feelings of sadness and joy -— sadness that the friend was gone, but joy that the friend was in a better place (which reflects Mucklow’s faith in Christ). “Balm” is a representation of this faith; it gives the listener different textures of picking to represent the different faces of Christ. Mucklow says that “Waterflow” “sounded like water in a stream," and I can’t deny that I thought of water when I heard the song.

This CD is a lovely guitar instrumental, and I highly recommend it if you are fans of great acoustic guitar.
~ Review by Denise Squier

Minor 7th
http://www.minor7th.com
For some, the guitar road leads from the solitary to the ensemble. For Michael Mucklow, years of playing, learning, and developing as a musician with other players led him to exploring the instrument on his own terms. With the release of "The View From Here", his second solo project, Mucklow plays songs that require the listener to stop and take in each note, each phrase, each idea. You can tell that these songs come from some place deep within, extending who Mucklow is and presenting it to us as a sort of offering we gladly accept. All of the songs are aided by a generous dose of reverb, which gives Mucklow a richer, fuller sound. The playing is neither flashy nor overdone, but sometimes almost bare in its approach, and for these songs, it works well. There are 11 tracks in all. "Phosphor" builds from a simple fingerpicked melody line to a rhythmic dance accompanied by a percussion track. "Mysterium" is a dark, haunting piece which wafts over the listener, drawing you into its slow movement. The early sky seeps into view on "Color of the Morning". "‘The View From Here" ends with the happy "Convertible", leaving your with a light, refreshed feeling. Michael Mucklow gives us a warm, solid offering of solo guitar music on this disc, music you can listen to.
~ Review by Kirk Albrecht

Midwest Record Recap
http://www.midwestrecord.com/
MICHAEL MUCKLOW/The View from Here: In which we find Mucklow’s solo debut was no fluke. Starting out under the influence of new age masters, Mucklow refines his approach where the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree but he injects more of his own personality in this new outing. A fingerstyle guitarist that knows how to pay attention to his art and deepen his craft, there hasn’t been a succession and progression like this going on in guitar since the early Leo Kottke records. For delicate instrumental work that has a lot of substance, this is fine work that will blow your guitar loving ears wide open.
~ Review by Chris Spector

BuddyHollywood.com
http://www.buddyhollywood.com/
On July 21, 2007 while everyone else was eagerly awaiting the release of a certain book, guitar lovers received something special - The View From Here, Michael Mucklow's second instrumental CD.

Mucklow's heavy metal/punk rock past (it WAS the 70's and 80's, after all) belies the beauty found in The View From Here. Eleven instrumental selections, all composed, arranged, and produced by Mucklow, feature acoustic guitar with occasional support from other instruments. The strings are picked with the fingers - like classical guitar but without the airs, creating music that is gentle and soothing, and somehow comfortingly familiar. However, instead of lulling the listener to sleep, the music bids the listener to really listen. More than background music, The View From Here is like an acoustic painting. It is music to contemplate by.

"Tears of the Wind" is almost haunting. "Pipes Canyon Sunset" and "Phosphor" will be favorites too... and don't forget "Convertible," which just might entice a few listeners to take a drive with the top down.

If you plan on a road trip in your convertible to see that sunset, don't forget to pop your copy of The View From Here into the CD player on the way. The view from HERE is beautiful!
~ Review by Marti Kramer Suddarth

Bridge Guitar Reviews
http://www.xs4all.nl/~guitars/
Hailing from Yucca Valley, California, USA. Michael Mucklow released his second CD “The View From Here”. His first CD “Clearly” got critical acclaim from the audience and the press. Michael Mucklow got inspired by guitarists like Will Ackerman, Michael Hedges and Acoustic Alchemy among others. The alternate tunings brought him the ability to play all moods and musical diversity he was looking for. The outcome is overwhelming, his new CD “The View From Here” shows us a very creative acoustic guitarist who shows fantastic skills on an acoustic guitar. Mucklow is a creator of atmosphere, with a soothing and relaxing setup which takes one on adventurous journeys of the unconscious mind. He builds noteworthy compositions, full of melodic skills, structure and balance. Beautiful ballads like “Phosphor, “Mysterium”, “Released”, Color of The Morning and “Balm” shows us he is very connected to nature and the universe with great introspection and reflection. Michael Mucklow brings us as well delightful guitar music which at times chills one out.
~ Review by Henk te Veldhuis

Indie Music Stop
http://indiemusicstop.blogspot.com/
Michael spent several of his younger years playing in heavy rock and punk bands. It's hard to believe after listening to the music found on his latest release The View From Here.

This release is filled with just over one-hour of guitar instrumental music that is about as far away from rock and punk music as you can get.

The eleven songs found on The View From Here are guitar instrumentals that Michael calls, New Age Fingerstyle. The music brings words like calming, relaxing, and mellow to mind.

The songs are simple, yet not simplistic. Each song paints its own picture through music.

I also liked the CD booklet's short notes that Michael included for each song.

My favorite track is, "Convertible" which also happens to be the most upbeat song found on The View From Here. The song has a real nice flow and guitar work. Michael describes the song as, "driving down a desert road on a wonderful sunny day...in a convertible".

If you want a CD that you can put on while you sit in a nice comfy chair and let the stress of the day melt away then The View From Here is just what your looking for.
~ Review by Senior Writer C.W. Ross

Testimonials...

"While listening to 'The View From Here' I began to hear something in your playing. It's so beautiful. Every song carries with it a sincere, thoughtful story. It's like reading without words. You seem to be painting a picture of yourself and those around you. There is joy and sadness yet understanding and wisdom. I am truly in awe of the gift and talent the Lord bestowed upon you ... it has blessed me beyond words ... thank you."
- Jamie G.
Washington, USA

"The guitar in Michael's hands is an artist paintbrush. One has only to listen to see the theme of each song visually. He truly has mastered the essence of the guitar, skillfully drawing you into the emotions of the heart whether that emotion is love's joy or a sweet sorrow beyond words. My personal favorite is 'the color of the morning' ... it quiets the mind, as each string resonates the peace and beauty of God's love portrayed in the sunrise. But just as I've never been able to pick 'my absolute favorite flower' neither can I settle on having only one favorite! Each song takes you with it. You will relate in heart to all one experiences in a loved one's passing on ... in 'released' ... Close your eyes and see more in 'mysterium' ... Put your seat belt on, let your hair blow, and tap your feet to his skillfully played 'Convertible' ... with its upbeat ending! Listen and see..."
- Claudia H.
California, USA

About the Music...

Inspirations

Pipe's Canyon Sunset - "One of the most beautiful views in the desert where I live is Pipe's Canyon during sunset ... I'm so easily carried away by it."

Phosphor - "This word means 'to bring light' ... the kind that enlightens us. I think this song sounds like enlightenment finding its way to a person."

Mysterium - "Life is a mystery."

Released - "This song was influenced by the passing of a friend. It's my expression of what it must feel like to finally be released from the body in which we reside."

Color Of The Morning - "The quietness and colorful sky of a desert sunrise."

Balm - "A soothing, healing or comforting agent . . . Christ."

Tears Of The Wind - "A soft warm breeze sweeps across my face . . . sometimes the natural elements speed to our heart."

The Tenderness Of The Heart - "I said hurtful words to someone I love and immediately knew the hurt that person felt . . . this song came to me a few moments later."

The Human Drama - "Life is a series of events that seem to contrast one another ... as the parts of this song do."

Waterflow - "I just thought this song sounded like water in a stream."

Convertible - "Driving down a lonely desert road on a wonderfully sunny day ... in a convertible!"

Instrumentation

Guitars - "A Walden G2070 was used on all tracks except for 5, 7 and 10. It's an all solid wood grand auditorium body style guitar. The woods are Cedar top and Mahogany back & sides. For track 5, 'Color Of The Morning', I used a Cort Earth 900 - that's a 12 fret parlor guitar. Track 6, 'Tears Of The Wind', has the G2070 and a Godin Multiac Nylon played in unison then I used the Godin to do the lead melody. For 'Tenderness' I used a Tacoma Thunderhawk baritone - a really nice deep voiced sounding guitar - for the fingerstyle rhythm track and the Godin nylon for the lead work. Finaly, on 'Waterflow' I used the Thunderhawk solo."

Percussion - "It's used quite sparingly on this project; only on tracks 2, 8 and 11. I created stereo percussion tracks using Acid Music - a lighter version of Acid Pro - then imported them into my Roland VS-2000CD. The samples were purchased from Drums On Demand...they've got some really good stuff."