A mainstay of the Austin, Texas music community courageously explores the richness of loss and the power of transformation on a long awaited solo album. Christine Albert has released 6 albums as part of the Folk/Americana duo Albert and Gage, with husband and musician extraordinaire Chris Gage. She is also well known for her unique take on French music in the three CD "Texafrance" series. On "Everything's Beautiful Now" Christine returns as a songwriter of depth and sensitivity. After experiencing the loss of over a dozen close friends and family members in the last few years, this collection of surprisingly hopeful and inspiring songs was born. "Everything's Beautiful Now" were some of the last words spoken to Christine by her mother-in-law in her final hours and the song is written in her voice. "My Heart's Prayer" - penned by South Dakota's Tom Peterson - is a message to those who have passed..."will you still know my face in that faraway place; will we meet over on the other shore." A simple and intimate arrangement of Warren Zevon's "Keep Me in Your Heart" is equally poignant as Zevon's message to his loved ones when he was close to the end. Christine sings a Shake Russell and Dana Cooper duet, "Lean My Way", with her son Troupe Gammage of the synth-pop band SPEAK, showcasing that uncanny family harmony blend; the Jerry Jeff Walker/Christine Albert composition "Old New Mexico" tells the true story of Christine's leap of faith when she left Santa Fe for Austin and she is joined on vocals by Jerry Jeff and Eliza Gilkyson, a close friend and fellow New Mexico transplant; Jackson Browne's "For a Dancer" fits right in with the theme of the album and features killer three part background vocals by the members of SPEAK. Christine's own songs ring true to who she is. "Flower of the Moon" and "Little One" are celebrations of growth and empowerment; "At Times Like These" is a musical sympathy card - reminding us that the only way past grief is through it; "Someday Isle" speaks to the necessity of overcoming fear to find your true self. Produced by Chris and Christine in their own MoonHouse Studio in Austin, Texas, the CD features Gage's instrumental gifts on piano, B3, acoustic and electric guitars, accordion, lap steel, harmonies and more; the Austin sound is reinforced by Lloyd Maines on Dobro, Kym Warner (The Greencards) on mandolin and Kim Deschamps on pedal steel with the A-team rhythm section of bassist Glenn Fukunaga and drummer Paul Pearcy. Upright bass player David Carroll adds the right touch to "My Heart's Prayer" and vocalist Kira Small's harmony is simply beautiful. Another of Christine's New Mexico compadres, Busy McCarroll, sings the third part on "Flower of the Moon." This is not an album that a twenty year old would record, but is an authentic exploration of a rite of passage we all experience when we reach a certain age. "I needed to record these songs for my own healing; my hope is that others will also be comforted in some way."