Jim Haptonstahl
Inside My Mind's Eye
© 2004 Jim Haptonstahl (783707037103)
CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.
SPECIAL: 20% discount if you buy more than one copy of it today!
Haptonstahl creates a swirling tapestry of sound, evoking images of prairie land, sky & mindscapes, in an eclectic mix of folk-rock.
tracks
try this
albums you will love
genres you will love
By Location
Recommended if you like ...
notes
INSIDE MY MIND'S EYE
The mesmerizing CD from Jim Haptonstahl
A powerful journey through the heart to the center of the mind . . .
Featured on Chicago Public Radio's "Hello Beautiful!" Arts Program with Edward Lifson...see www.jimhap.com for more details.
Singer-songwriter Jim Haptonstahl creates a swirling tapestry of sound, evoking images of prairie land and sky-scapes mixed with voyages into deep recesses of the soul. Inside My Mind's Eye winds through complex emotional and psychological territory-from escape and alienation to meditation and personal redemption, from anxiety and self-doubt to hope and self-renewal. The title song serves as the central piece of this artful puzzle. Haptonstahl tackles his creative demons while trying to stay connected to those he loves, and to the cosmic forces in his mind.
The twelve songs of Inside My Mind's Eye represent a wide sonic spectrum, yet form an organic whole to match with the CD's theme. The music includes a mesmerizing blend of acoustic and electric guitars. Haptonstahl's voice is at once strong and clear, then pensive and earnest. He supports the songs with a broad palette of percussion, lyrical bass lines, and inspired psychedelic effects.
Seven instrumental tracks are featured, including three solo acoustic finger-style compositions, and mixtures of intricately arranged 6-and 12-string guitars, electric guitar, bass, mellotron and eerie soundscapes. Haptonstahl's five vocal tunes are richly layered ensemble pieces, featuring stirring melodies, transcendent harmonies and glistening guitar solos.
The CD is a family artistic affair. Haptonstahl's daughter Julia provides accomplished accompaniment on bass for two songs. His brother Max's mind-bending intaglio print serves as the CD artwork. Surreal images interspersed throughout the CD package resonate with the mood of the music.
Bio:
Emerging from Galesburg in the prairies of central Illinois, Jim Haptonstahl has worn a variety of musical hats. Starting as a solo artist in mid-'70's, Haptonstahl integrated his original material into a mix of late '60's and early to mid '70's folk-rock, from Beatles to Joni Mitchell to Cat Stevens. But he was also intrigued with the complex sounds of Peter Gabriel-era Genesis, with Frank Zappa, with elaborate poly-rhythms and open tunings.
In 1978 he formed a duo with Robin Akins. He and Akins soon combined forces with other Peoria-area musicians Hugh and Rudy Higgins, Mark Smith and Doug Lady to create a formidable band-Helix-and a considerable cult-following. With its wide range of rock, jazz and folk-infused sounds, Helix provided a vehicle for a number of original Haptonstahl tunes, while also broadening his musical vocabulary.
In 1983 Haptonstahl joined New Moon, a Bloomington, Illinois based new folk group. Violin-mandolin-harmonica player Joel Batty and bass-player/guitarist Bob Egan (who subsequently has recorded and performed with Wilco and Blue Rodeo) combined with Haptonstahl to create tight harmonies and driving instrumental arrangements. Over the next two years New Moon was featured on several local live radio concerts, including joint performances with Alison Krauss.
In 1986 Haptonstahl ventured into the studio to create his "Seventh Recurring Dream" song cycle. This seven-song effort, featuring six vocal tunes and one guitar duet, addressed themes ranging from apocalyptic fears to flights of fantasy, from rapturous love to a tale of haves and have-nots in a stark urban world. To render these intense, imagistic songs Haptonstahl assembled a tight ensemble of accomplished instrumentalists.
Through the last decade-and-a-half Haptonstahl has continued to perform solo, as well as with Steve Jackson on cello, bass and backing vocals, Bill Kavanagh (bass), his daughter Julia Haptonstahl (bass/flute), Joel Batty (violin/harmonica/mandolin), Chris DeMonk (bass), Hugh Higgins (vocals/percussion), & Robin Akins (bass). Focusing primarily on original material, he has played a variety of Chicago area & other Midwest venues, while continuing to compose a voluminous repertoire of songs. He and Jackson created a quirky and ironic soundtrack for the Tom Jackson & Marty Monical film short "One Track Mind", winner of the "People's Choice" award at the recent Black Earth Film Festival.
With Inside My Mind's Eye Haptonstahl has continued his musical evolution-utilizing a complex array of guitar tunings, song structures, and lyrical themes to create an arresting collection of songs.
reviews
Please log in to review this album.
This cd is great! I highly recommend it. Great guitar work!
author: KarenMcLI want to give this cd another star. When I first reviewed it, I thought four stars was the highest rating. Since five stars is the highest, that's what it should receive. Jim Haptonstahl creates great guitar sounds. He is musically creative, providing original guitar styling. I highly recommend this cd.
Soul-satisfying music
author: Mark SmithAs a proud fellow traveler on part of Jim’s musical journey, I know that his music is exceptionally high in quality, carefully crafted, powerfully purposeful, musically meaningful, and humanly meaningful. “Inside My Mind’s Eye” continues with his legacy of quality. In addition to the quality of music, the recording is also high in quality, leaving the listener sonically satisfied. The combination of both high quality songs and high quality sounds is very satisfying for the soul.
Take a Trip Inside His Mind's Eye
author: Jules "JuJu" VerneWhat a trip inside Jim Haptonstahl's Mind's Eye! He brings the listener a sense of harmony mixed with edginess, with side-trips into the subconscious. Fine fingerstyle guitar work on the instrumentals, but also a deft touch with the muted attack on electric guitar, creating flute-like tones in counterpoint lines. Evokes everything from John Renbourn to Jimmie Spheeris to Steve Hackett. But Haptonstahl also stakes a claim to a new and original voice: poetic musings within a dense thicket of reality, with some magic and heart thrown in for good measure.
Normally, I RIP on new artist releases--not this time!
author: The Hatchet ManNormally, I RIP on new artist releases--not this time! This is a thoughtful and elegant piece of work. It has a sweeping range and intricate melodies. I'm HAPpy to have it in my collection!
terrific guitar work
author: sweetaritaWhen I wrote my first review of this CD, I thought the ratings system had 4 stars as the highest rating. Since 5 stars is the highest rating, I want to give it 4 stars. The guitar work is terrific and the vocals are well-done. I still think it is a little moody, but moody can be very good, and this is!
Sunt Lacrimae Rerum "There are tears of things" - from Vergil
author: Max HaptonstahlThis CD album delivers on the promise of its title and the surreal skies of the cover art: introspective but airy, flowing through many complex moods and colors – and stretches of wonderful passion. Tinted with a dark sadness throughout, but always believing in, and hoping for, something wonderful at the root of nature. After putting the disk in the player the first time, I played the tracks repeatedly throughout the evening and into the morning… and the next evening. JimHap puts his fingers to the frets in search of beauty, and finds it. His riffs are reminiscent of many influences, from Frank Zappa to Pat Metheny, David Crosby, Leo Kottke, Will Ackerman and, well, Joni Mitchell among others. I’m familiar with JimHap’s work from previous decades, and there’s clearly an evolving maturity in his instrumental technique. The voice of the golden youth has acquired an understated quality well suited to the aging child. His backup voice tracks seem to falter sometimes, as though he’s worn out from all the emoting on the lead tracks. Get yourself some compatible but contrasting singing voices behind you on the next one, Jimmie! Summary Score: Four stars… or is it five? What’s the highest one? Anyway, I recommend you get this CD. And be prepared to spend some quality time with it!
Superb interplay of instrument, lyric, and vocal to communicate an idea.
author: Michael HensonOn Mind's Eye Jim Haptonstahl summons his extensive musical knowledge and technique to carry the listener on journeys through the joys and sorrows found within the common struggles of everyday life, as one searches for meaning, resolution, and hope. Excellent use of intricate guitar textures and variation of keys and time signatures to either drive the instrumentals or to set the spirit for the content of the vocal pieces. Nicely done!
Original guitar styling, highly recommended
author: KarenMcLGreat guitar work! Highly recommend it if you enjoy original guitar styling. Wonderful interludes in the songs with vocals, and many excellent instrumentals.
Interesting, but moody
author: sweetaritaThis CD features some very interesting guitar work and strong vocals. It seemed moody to me, and maybe I wasn't in the mood for moody.
Sunt lacrimae rerum - From Vergil, "There are Tears of Things"
author: MAXHAPThis CD album delivers on the promise of its title and the surreal skies of the cover art: introspective but airy, flowing through many complex moods and colors – and stretches of wonderful passion. Tinted with a dark sadness throughout, but always believing in, and hoping for, something wonderful at the root of nature. First the bad news – the title song was a comparative thud measured against the emotionally driven palette of the rest of the offerings. Plodding in composition and delivery, as though JimHap was taking an emotional breather. That said, after putting the disk in the player the first time, I played the tracks repeatedly throughout the evening and into the morning… and the next evening. JimHap puts his fingers to the frets in search of beauty, and finds it. His riffs are reminiscent of many influences, from Frank Zappa to Pat Metheny, David Crosby, Leo Kottke, Will Ackerman and, well, Joni Mitchell among others. I’m familiar with JimHap’s work from previous decades, and there’s clearly an evolving maturity in his instrumental technique. The voice of the golden youth has acquired an understated quality well suited to the aging child. His backup voice tracks seem to falter sometimes, as though he’s worn out from all the emoting on the lead tracks. Get yourself some compatible but contrasting singing voices behind you on the next one, Jimmie! Summary Score: Four stars… or is it five? What’s the highest one? Anyway, I recommend you get this CD. And be prepared to spend some quality time with it!
Evocative, reflective, and sometimes disturbing acoustic explorations
author: FoxTroxInside My Mind's Eye is evocative and personal. Many of the songs suggest deep undercurrents of anxiety and disappointment, despite lofty, expressive, and creative acoustic explorations that make you feel hopeful at the same time. When you sit alone, wondering and worrying, this is the music that plays in your head.