The pot's overflowin' -- it's time
author: Guitar9.com
Engaging in what he calls "musical guerrilla tactics",
guitarist and songwriter Carl Clark, from Louisville,
Kentucky, offers a CD of infinite musical styles, entitled
Strangely Delicious Stew. Since a stew is usually a
broad and personal mix of meats and veggies, the title
could be considered appropriate - you're likely to be
hearing a rock instrumental one moment and a country
twangfest with vocals the next. We found the
instrumentals to be the true toe-tappers and
ear-perkers from the CD -- "Neurotransmission" and
"Space Chicken" being two examples -- they just
seemed to work a lot better in the context of the album.
Clark uses a variety of electric and acoustic guitars,
mandolin, resonator and banjo on the CD, so there is
plenty of sonic variety along with the stylistic gumbo. It
would be interesting to see what Clark could come up
with in a collaboration with a vocalist, or perhaps in an
instrumental release. The pot's overflowin' -- it's time
for yer vittles!
Carl mostly plays guitar (all
varieties), and can plunk down a
little piano when asked. He
claims to be a singer-songwriter
and can stay remarkably calm
when such claims are
questioned. Carl has a
fascination towards the
relationship of the normal to the
absurd. He likes to write about the inside of the
outsider, the under-belly of the over-achiever, and the
effects of love on the unaffected. Carl's not sure where
this all comes from, but perhaps he's just an innocent
bystander with a guilty mind.
Anyway, remember the name. Carl Clark. Remember
the CD. Strangely Delicious Stew. And, as always, Carl
thanks you for listening.
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"...as diverse and unpredictable as the selections on a jukebox"
author: Jim Conway-louisville Music News
It's kind of hard to put your finger on what's going on with Carl Clark: there are touches of acoustic folk, streaks
of neo-jazz, some suggestion of traditional country, or maybe a pinch of modern rock to boot. A Strangely Delicious Stew it is nonetheless.
Fresh from his contribution to Scott Benningfield's The Acoustic Lighthouse Experiment, Clark delivers twelve slices of eclectic home-studio craft as diverse and as unpredictable as the selections on a jukebox.
Now I have to admit, I'm a sucker for Dobro playing, which is what is so cool about "Your Alibis." As the dobro twangs, Clark sings of the realization that the excuses of the singer's lover are starting to wear a little thin and, "it's all gonna catch up with (her), somehow." In fact, Clark seems fairly comfortable in the country music camp, especially with the intro to the
Chet Adkins/Duane Eddy-influenced instrumental, "Space Chicken." Eventually, the guitar picking gives away to a synth and tone-pedal interlude before traveling back to the main theme and provides the listener with a nice musical tour in a four-minute time frame.
Continuing on the musical journey, Clark samples the waters of the 1930s with "To Virginia," which reeks of Depression-era charm and provides the listener with enough dulcimer and
mandolin mistakes (I think) that the artist appears seemingly at ease with the proceedings, and, it is hoped, his craft.
From the Depression, we continue the sojourn to the later part of the 20th century, with "Encircled" and a Dire Straits-influenced (i.e., Knoffler-like lead guitar licks.) The robot-like spoken part and computer noise provide contrast to the song as a whole, with Clark providing his philosophy regarding relationships: Some need it fancy, I need it plain.
But the highlight of Strangely Delicious Stew is the first cut, an instrumental called "Neurotransmission," which works surprisingly well as a new age-style instrumental. The surreal quality and the different textures of the arrangement make it fun for the listener to follow along. And even with Clark's tendency to dabble in different musical styles, it makes the listener sit up with anticipation as to what is coming next. Strangely unpredictable is this stew.
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