Beyond is a moving experience and an excellent introduction to the Celtic brand of new age music.

Judy, the singer/musician, has overcome physical obstacles to create lyrics and music that is beautiful and uplifting. She has a lilting, haunting voice that is not overwhelmed by the variety of instruments she plies to accompany herself.

Afflicted with multiple food allergies and severe chemical intolerance, she sought solace in music some five years ago when she started playing keyboard. Music soon became a major part of her life, and she advanced to other instruments and began playing gigs with folk and jazz bands. When her health problems confined her to a wheelchair, she began concentrating on studio-based projects.

Beyond is her second album. She wrote the lyrics for all 12 tracks and the variety of instruments backing them is amazing -- fiddle, whistles, accordion, concertina, melodeon, acoustic and bass guitars, bodhran, bongos, congas and other percussion.

I enjoyed all the music on this album. If I had to list favorites, topping the list would be "Silence" and "Don't Know Why."

by John R. Lindermuth
Rambles.NET
6 May 2006

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