Reviewed by Sue Rann

At last, the instrumental-chorus album comes of age! This is a mixture of flautist Booth's own original compositions and adaptations of hymns and worship songs - there is even a take on one of the themes from Hoist's 'Planet' Suite. Booth covers a range of styles without jarring between them - from the Celtic mood of the opening tracks to hymnody and back again via classical. "Be Still My Soul" is a particularly well adapted track -the song can be a real dead horse, but Booth puts a twist in the timing, and has made a soulful virtue of its solemnity. An oblique approach to melody, complex and well thought out backing to the solo instrument -these are qualities often badly lacking in instrumental albums of this type, but this CD has them in spades. Andy Booth is an original composer and musician of wide ranging talent. If someone doesn't offer this guy a recording deal soon, they must all be nuts. Buy this now before he gets expensive!

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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