Like a child's favorite toy or a warm summer's stroll, unadorned, gentle guitar songs bring a comfort that nurtures the soul. Inspired by the nature of the Welsh national park where he lives and works as an ecologist. Mike Howe's gorgeous first album offers fifteen original compositions that will be a welcome pause in any day... a respite when time truly stands still.

Track Listing

1. Heading West 3:13
2. The River May Rise 4:19
3. Musselwick 2:46
4. Falling Leaf, Turning World 3:54
5. Run Deep 3:49
6. Journey Home 3:58
7. Nearby Faraway 4:09
8. Pwll Deri 2:57
9. I Will Follow 3:32
10. Jumping the Stream 3:14
11. Winter Afternoon 4:04
12. Clouds 4:18
13. For Claire 2:42
14. When the Snow Comes 4:07
15. Time Stands Still 4:01

Reviews

Time Stands Still is Welsh guitarist Mike Howe’s debut album and contains just under an hour of some of the most soothing acoustic guitar music I’ve heard. An ecologist in a Welsh national park, Howe’s music is inspired by the natural world where he lives and works as well as the people and places he has known. A relatively late-starter to the creative end of music, this self-taught artist doesn’t play with a lot of fancy fingerwork, but the depth of emotion and sincerity in his music more than compensate. His easy rapport with his guitar and the gentle background sounds on bass, keyboards, and percussion (also played by Howe) combine to make this a very impressive first album. As is always true with Real Music releases, the production quality is stellar. It is difficult to classify Howe’s music, but his simple, straightforward songs reflect folk traditions with a contemporary sensibility. More than anything, this music is humble, heartfelt, and strikingly beautiful. The warmth and serenity felt in the fifteen quiet melodies are very personal yet easily accessible. The CD maintains a calming mood from start to finish, but the individual pieces are distinctive and unique. Sure to ease away the stresses of the day and create an enchanting atmosphere, Time Stands Still is a must for anyone who enjoys acoustic guitar music. Recommended!

Kathy Parsons, MainlyPiano.com

Time Stands Still: Welsh park ranger by day, sensitive acoustic guitarist by night, this dude’s day job certainly gives him the space to be a sensitive guitarist as he’s surrounded by a lot of nature and  probably a lot of solitude if “Local Hero” gave us any indication and things haven’t changed much.  A nice look back at simplicity and elegance meeting at the vortex and making pure music that easily touches you.  A very winning debut.

Chris Spector, Editor and Publisher of Midwest Record

“I like this one a lot but I'm not sure how to put it into words. Howe plays sensitive, pensive and serene acoustic guitar melodies, it’s very relaxing and new-agey, just the kind of thing if you need to chill out or have some quiet driving music. My fave track on here is “Jumping the Stream” that has a nice beat & energy to it, some light percussion and a “perpetual motion” backup figure… Track 13 "For Claire" (his partner) is pretty cool too, with a catchy 4-note descending figure running through the song. Time Stands Still is a good title for this, it’s a good CD to take you out of “time” and all the hassle going on around you, that’s more or less the mission of the Real Music Label. Actually throughout the entire CD there’s really nothing to complain about.

Howe lives in Wales, speaks fluent Welsh, and now age 43 in 2009, began composing relatively recently. He has a masters in ecology and spent a many years working in nature and wildlife conservation, which inspired a lot of his composition. He’s a self-taught guitarist who grew up in Liverpool and was inspired by a lot of the music scene there. No, it doesn’t “break new ground,” but it doesn’t have to. More so, it’s instantly familiar, but he just does a good job of it. It’s nice stuff. Cool promo pic, too!”

Jerry Rabushka, Raggedblade.com

Time Stands Still is the debut album from guitarist and ecologist Mike Howe, a man whose inspiration is derived from his home and work environment of the Welsh National Park. The beauty of nature is very much evident in each of these quiet fantasias, which feature his gentle guitar strumming alongside very light keyboard enhancement.

Dan Cowan, Music Design

“This is lovely, very soothing.  Also good for yoga, massage, meditation!”

Omaha Healing Arts Center, Omaha, NE

“Fantastic guitar! Mike Howe is apparently one of those unknown gems. Amazed by the beauty.”

Paradise Found, Santa Barbara, CA

“Best guitar CD he has heard in a long while!”

Goddess Elite, N. Olmsted, OH


“Have worn it out playing over and over again…”

Sunrise Bookstore, Oakland, CA

“Gets a resounding OMG must have”

Isis Metaphysical Books, Denver, CA