Album Notes

"The Back of Beyond" is Frank's first solo album since 1998! In the meantime he's released a collaboration with the French naive duo Klimperei & an album with Scavenger Quartet. Both groups make appearances on this album, along with
the usual suspects, expert Pahlologists such as Marko Novachcoff, Terri Sarris & Bobbi Benson. The Back of Beyond is more focused than In Cahoots (1996) or Remove the Cork (1998) as it sticks to the instrumental format & Pahl has
refined his art. His music mostly consists of precious little melodies performed on an assortment of toy & unusual instruments: ukes, euphonium, harmonium, zither, melodica and an array of self-built automated devices. Each of these short pieces feels like a bonsai. Under its apparent fragility
lies a world of small details and precise gestures. Yes there is something Japanese in the refinement of this music, despite or even because of the cling-clang of its misfit toys. The sound world of Pascal Comelade once more comes
to mind, although Pahl's music is also rooted in Americana. Epilogue has a country folk buried deeply in its core. And what about his interpretation of an old tune from the Little Rascals television series (Good Old Days)? Only Pahl could dig that up and make it sound timeless. In recent years the humorous singer-songwriter of Only a Mother has turned into a composer of finesse for unlikely orchestras. You can prefer one over the other, but you can't deny the irresistable charm of The Back of Beyond.
- Francois Couture, All Music Guide