It's hard to know where to start with Beth Custer's music. She's a fantastic contemporary clarinet player. She writes soundtracks for silent films (with the Club Foot Orchestra). She creates music for dance, theatre and film. She writes weirdo pop songs. You name it -- if it's funky, experimental and fun, she's probably done it. In the Broken Fields Where I Lie works rather nicely as a survey of Custer's broad, engaging sound world. Numerous short carny/burlesque romps like "Carnyville" and "Petnapping" goof around in Danny Elfman land, while the longer works range from strange, sad chamber orchestra pop songs (?!?) ("In the Broken Fields Where I Lie") to groovy Duke Ellington arrangements ("Echoes of Harlem") to slow, lush clarinet meditations ("I WIll Be Sad In This Life").

So, wow. This is good stuff. If you've got ears, and they work, then you'll love this CD. Really. Go get it.