Album Notes

Barry McCabe’s newest offering Beyond the Tears once again treats us to his knack for pulling wildly diverse musical influences into a cohesive work of art. The blues guitar we’ve come to expect is there, as is the Celtic folk element that surfaced most noticeably in The Peace Within. But the new disc adds subtle shadings of other genres as well; there’s much more to Barry’s music than his love for blues and his Irish roots.

Beyond the Tears is in the tradition of what we used to call a "concept album" back in the ’70s. The theme woven around the songs here is that of the quintessential misunderstood outsider, personified by "Johnny"; he is, as Barry explains in the liner notes, "the part of society and ourselves we’d rather not know about." There’s plenty said within this set of songs about the travails of life and about how prone anyone can be to downheartedness under the right circumstances. But overall it’s a positive theme, urging us to look beyond the immediate happenings and come out the other side better and stronger.

The disc kicks off with a classic Chuck Berry riff on the Dave Edmunds-style number, "Johnny Nobody" It’s hard to imagine anyone else being able to bring off a rocker like this while incorporating lyrics that deal with serious philosophical issues like the power of positive/negative thinking on one’s reality, but Barry handles it in understated style without ever sounding pretentious or preachy about it.

Strong Peter Green influences are evident on "In the Dead of Night" as well as "Trouble" and both are good solid tracks with moody guitar riffs that stick in the brain long after the disc has stopped. The Celtic factor comes to the front on the instrumentals "Catch Me If You Can" "Arthur" (my personal favorite) and "The Sunset Waltz". There’s only one cover tune this time around (Van Morrison’s "Crazy Love") which fits in surprisingly well with the rest of the tracks as well as giving us the opportunity to notice that Barry’s not just another guitarist - he can pull off beautiful vocals too.

The remaining tracks are more straightforward accessible rock that will likely appeal to a broad range of listeners. "Rollin’" picks up the pace on the second half of the disc; it's a freight train of a song reminiscent of some of Rory Gallagher’s high-energy numbers like "Just Hit Town" And if the radio industry ever develops aesthetic sensibilities, the Claptonesque "I Wonder" will be all over the airwaves.

One commendable thing about Barry McCabe is that even though he’s clearly a masterful solo musician, he appreciates the nuances of ensemble playing. He's assembled a congenial group of musician friends and acquaintances to work with him on this recording, most of whom just happen to have a solid pedigree with one band or another (in this instance, Pat McManus, Horslips’ Johnny Fean, and Mark Feltham from Rory Gallagher’s band). This is in stark contrast to most solo guitarists whose egos take over the show in long, self-indulgent leads while other musicians are on the recording merely for back-up or window-dressing. You’ll hear excellent guitar solos on Barry’s discs, but they’re always tasteful and appropriate for the context; the songs are never just a showcase for his licks.

Overall, Beyond the Tears is a fine effort from an extremely dedicated and talented musician. Listeners who appreciate solid guitar work, subtly introspective lyrics, and an eclectic blend of musical styles should enjoy this disc.
Pat Miller - Gatewood Journal - USA
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A few comments from:
Steve Iredale
U2’s production manager – Ireland

"Now listening to the album for the third time. No doubt, this is your most mature work to date. "Trouble" blew my mind. If I close my eyes I think this is what Horslips could have sounded like if they had kept going, but they didn't and you did, and have produced a cracker of a song. "The Sunset Waltz" is a masterpiece. "Catch me if you can", "Rollin", "In the dead of Night", all excellent. If the Stones at this stage of their career produced songs of this quality, they would be hailed as geniuses.

There is a wonderful mood to the album, and you hear that in all the playing. Guitars, Hammond, harp, accordion throughout the album are beautifully blended and sit perfectly within the songs. It will sit right along side Mick Taylor's - Leather Jackets in my collection

Guess what McCabe, you've found what you're looking for. Good lad. It's been a road worth travelling.

Mark Feltham
Rory Gallagher Band – England
"I was humbled recently to be asked by Barry to contribute to what turned out to be a cracking record in the making. One of the songs was a kind of Celtic boogie, the second a fabulous acoustic Irish self-penned instrumental, and the last a great Dylanesque type song. I love the fact that I am lucky enough to get the opportunity to play on other people’s records, as I honestly enjoy the buzz, and this one was no exception"

Johnny Fean
Horslips - Ireland
"I have known, and been a friend of Barry's for many years, and I was delighted to be asked to play on his new CD. The songs have a very natural feel and are very musical and it was a pleasure for me to play on and be part of this wonderful album."

Pat McManus
Mama’s Boys & Celtus – N.Ireland
"Working with my good friend Barry was a great experience and a pleasure. The music was organic and rootsie and reminded me of the early Fleetwood Mac albums. In the same breath it is very much an album that says exactly who Barry is and his unique take on the blues"

PJ Curtis
Award winning record producer/DJ/writer – Ireland
"Just listened in full to the CD and I have to say you have produced an absolute gem of an album. I just loved it all! Great songs...superb playing throughout and excellent production values"