Seeking the Light [Import]

The liner notes of the CD speak of an internal journey and of secrets once heard but long since forgotten. On the inside cover of the CD booklet is what can only be referred to as a poem about Light. Now, the closest I ever got to poetry was reading the lyrics to Bob Dylan, yet there was something very captivating in this story. I re-read it several times.

As far as solo piano is concerned, Eric seems to allow the listeners mind to be the background orchestration to the music. I've since discussed this CD with the friend who referred me, and even though we both highly enjoy the music, we disagree as to which instruments we could imagine supporting the CD in various places. For instance, in the song "Alone", I hear the perfect accompaniment to be a nylon string guitar, where she swears that the French Horn would be the only way to go. In the song "Take Me Home", I would love to hear a String Quartet accompanying, while she hears, of all instruments, an Accordion (She says it's an Italian thing)! I find it interesting that Eric's music can evoke such different reactions between 2 individuals with such similar taste in music.

Although one CD doth not a New Age fan make, Eric McCarl's Seeking The Light Within seems to transcend Musical Genres, and does what every truly great CD (or Album) seems to do: It holds a unique message for each listener. And, as his bio states that his influences include Elton John (especially, in my opinion, early Elton), I can, without guilt, listen to this CD and still feel a connection to my Rock and Roll roots.

This is a wonderful listening experience!

"I wrote this song at a very interesting time in my life, where I had just decided to give up fighting upstream, and let the river of life carry me where I was supposed to go. This concept of letting go has been a part of many religious and spiritual teachings, even used in 12-step programs - "Let go and let God." If memory serves me correctly, I was standing in a musical instrument repair shop on a Tuesday afternoon, unemployed, with no idea where my next paycheck (much less the rent check) was going to come from, listening to a used instrument salesman pitching a piece of gear -- "only used for two hours in a very famous Recording Studio in Hollywood . . ." when I wandered away toward an electric piano that was being repaired by a kid who obviously didn't want any attention. When he finally, sheepishly looked up from his work, he told me that he had reworked the manufacturer's sound on the piano, and asked if I would like to hear how it sounded. I said yes, and put the headphones on and touched the keys. The resulting sound possessed a beauty that was unlike anything I'd ever heard, and my hands wrote this song. This song is about trusting in a higher power than ourselves, and maybe more so, realizing that sometimes immense beauty exists in those that are the most afraid to show it."

With this kind of insight, it is no surprise that each song takes the listener on their own internal journey. I've listened to this CD several times, and each time I hear something new or experience different thoughts. At a point in our history when it is most important to search inside ourselves for answers, this CD couldn't have come along at a better time.

I highly recommend "Seeking The Light Within!" I look forward to the next two installments of this trilogy.