CD: Where Angels Tread by Medwyn Goodall

By Vernon Marshall View Profile
For those who are familiar with Medwyn Goodall, and who like his work, this will be a pleasing album. It is typical of Goodall, in that he uses a number of different instruments to create gentle, soothing rhythms. In this instance it is guitar and piano, panpipes and oboe. Goodall has a distinct style. Some music of this genre captivates you with sweet sounds that are relaxing and smooth. Goodall, though within this tradition, nevertheless creates simple melodies that are memorable. There is a noticeable structure, a development of sounds, and a use of phrases that come back to emphasise the mood.
These musical creations have a clear beginning and end and are simply beautiful works of art. I would not use this CD for meditation. I find my mind does not get completely lost whilst listening to it. On the contrary, I want to follow where the music is taking me. The different tracks also differ one from the other. Some CDs use the whole space with one theme. Goodall, however, likes to move into separate spaces, to express himself with slightly different styles each time. Sometimes there is a slight beat, sometimes a dominant sound is heard, but always there is a display of real creative skill. If there is a heaven then surely Goodall’s music will be heard there.