Search - BEAT CIRCUS :: Dreamland (Jewl)

Gently jarring, often deeply satisfying

C. Jacoby | Falls Church, VA USA | 03/14/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"My copy of this CD arrived with a sticker quoting published reviews that stated the music was "bizarre" and "twisted" and "stylistic miscegenation." I beg to differ. For anyone who's ever listened to Tom Waits, especially his "Frank's Wild Years" and "Mule Variations" albums, you'll find familiar sounds and rhythms, as will anyone who's listened to Kurt Weill's "Three-Penny Opera." The songs quote liberally from the "dark side of show business" genres, creating a full sound with orchestral combinations like tuba, violin, cello, banjo, and drums. These kinds of combinations may sound pretty odd on paper, but they're not all that far removed from cabaret bands, bare-bones pit orchestas, klezmer bands, and vintage hot jazz combos.



I found all but a few tracks on the CD extremely well-crafted, very well engineered, and stuck in my head long after the CD had finished. I thought a few tracks were a touch too experimental for my taste, but the CD as a whole is welcome addition to my collection. I look forward to hearing Beat Circus' next project."