Nick Hakim – ‘I Can See’ album review: Quiet but mighty
An album that starts out quietly is not one to be overlooked. If anything, it should only make you lean in to listen more closely.
The Skinny: That is exactly how Nick Hakim’s latest record, I Can See, both starts out and largely carries forward, but you would be mistaken if you think it goes down without a punch. The musician has spent years harnessing his career alongside a stint as producer for a slew of major artists, not least Adrianne Lenker. But that doesn’t mean that he has let his own artistry fall by the wayside at any point.
Indeed, the sheer intimacy which becomes the cornerstone of I Can See is the very best testament to that. It never needs to be loud or particularly blistering to still masterfully lay out its point. Hakim weaves soaring harmonies with vocals that barely waver above a whisper at certain points.
That statement can be applied fairly universally across the course of the album, but it equally does not translate into 12 tracks of sameness. The songs are peppered with a whole range of sounds that bear noting to understand the dynamics of what they bring. While ‘The Reason’ sees layered harmonies take front and centre, what takes greater precedence in ‘7 Days’ is a steady, marching beat, as one example.
It comes across almost as though Hakim uses each track as an opportunity for a unique instrumental showcase of one specific aspect, even if it’s something as simple as the piano on the closing song ‘Water’, or the current of drowsy synths on ‘Endlessly Waiting’. Everything is given its own time and space, while the singer effectively acts as the guiding presence to help it all along.
That notion of space and detail is almost meditative, but it reflects a deeply intricate and personal process Hakim has undergone to release the album at this point. Having been crafted, one stage at a time, over a period of five years, the gradual process of reflection is writ large at every turn of the way.
There is a reason, in this respect, why not a single song clocks in under the four-minute mark. While length alone isn’t the most important factor at play, it is a useful tool in an album that is inherently based on the idea of change. You can’t relate to that concept if it is rushed, and you can’t witness the change if you aren’t given the time to hear it.
It’s extremely evident that every note, every sound, and every word of I Can See has been considered to the end of the Earth. The album is conscious of itself in this respect, but the intimacy it cultivates is undeniably its greatest shining streak. From bedroom demos to the world, the path forward is more than clear.
Standout Track: ‘The Reason’
The Verdict: In effect, Hakim is placing his thoughts on the past number of years on a table for passersby to pick up and inspect, only if they want to. Some might overlook it for being so quiet and unassuming, but for those who truly take the time to listen, they will find a Pandora’s box of an intoxicating and deeply beguiling world.
Release Date: July 24th, 2026 | Producer: Nick Hakim/Andrew Sarlo | Label: Stem via Earseed Records
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