Ten things you never knew about the CD...

1. Over £1000 has been donated from 'Just Beyond' sales to Cancer Research UK in memory of Mich's parents, both of whom passed away during the period the CD was recorded. When clearing out her Dad's shop, Mich found a copy of her first CD, Live at Harmuni, by the CD player.

2. The eponymous song 'Just Beyond' was originally dedicated to the filk community and paying tribute to those who dare to believe in something. Although Mich has become involved with Jewish music in the last few years, she counts herself as 'spiritual'. Mich's songs have been played in a synagogue, church and a spiritual retreat.

3. Just Beyond was recorded at Martin Gordon-Kerr's studio in Oakham. This peaceful village close to Rutland Waters made for a mellow recording experience. GK steadfastly engineered the album despite the arrival of of a newborn during the recording period! The GKs are keen musicians and have produced their own album of original songs, Separate Worlds

4. Amongst the performers on the CD was the feisty all-woman band Divine Strumpet, who brought their unique chaos to the proceedings. The 'atmosphere' track of Justin's Song was created by having all the ladies in the household dancing around the living room with bells, wine glasses and tankards, a young boy and a bunny rabbit. No, really.

5. Live performances of Just Beyond, Sholem, and Lullaby, as well as some of Divine Strumpet, appear on the FilkArchive, maintained by Martin GK. Since the release of Just Beyond, the song 'Now and Here' has also been performed by Playing Rapunzel (Mich and Marilisa Valtazanou) accompanied by double bass expertly wielded by Gary Holder. Playing Rapunzel also do perform a duet version of 'Sholem'.

6. Mich plays the harp in Father's Honour and Moment of Silence, but it is not hers! Mich sold her own harp at university, in theory to pay for the rent (in practice, probably to fund a role-playing habit). The hire harp was an Ashdown, chosen because of the warmth of its sound, from Pilgrim Harps in Godstone, Surrey. It was hired a month before recording and Mich was very sorry to have to give it back!

7. Mich doesn't transcribe her piano parts - they are all improvised around a chord and 'texture' structure. Similarly, most vocal harmonies on the CD are improvised, with the exception of Sholem, Furies, and Moment of Silence. By the time of recording, Mich had clocked up ten years of piano lessons, but no singing lessons - something she has since worked to rectify!

8. Mich has set two Tolkien poems to music, and had even recorded one of the tracks for inclusion in Just Beyond. Sadly, these do not feature on the album because the Tolkien estate will not release any music permissions. Mich continues to fight the fight - if you have any insider contacts, let her know!

9. Yes, the hand in the album cover is meant to be 'Justin'. In real life, though, it's pixelwitch Anke's brother!

10. The CD would never have been made if it hadn't been for the offer of the Filk Fund to provide a loan to cover expenses. Because of hold-ups late in the production, the finished CDs were delivered by the pressing company directly to the filk convention hotel ready for Mich to launch that same day. Phew.