Dreamland (Beat Circus album)

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Dreamland
Dreamland cover
Studio album by Beat Circus
Released January 29, 2008
Recorded 2006
Genre Cabaret
Experimental
Length 45:06
Label Cuneiform Records
Producer Martin Bisi, Brian Carpenter
Professional reviews
Beat Circus chronology
Ringleaders Revolt
(2004)
Dreamland
(2008)

Dreamland is the second studio album by American band Beat Circus. It was released on January 29, 2008 by Cuneiform Records, and shares its title with the turn-of-the-century Coney Island theme park which burned in a devastating fire in 1911. The album is a 150-page score for 9 musicians composed and arranged by Brian Carpenter and produced by Martin Bisi. Dreamland marks the first installment of Carpenter's Weird American Gothic trilogy.[1]

Contents

[edit] Track listing

All songs written by Brian Carpenter, except where noted. Recorded in 2006 by Martin Bisi at his B.C. Studios in Brooklyn, New York.

  1. "Gyp The Blood" – 2:22
  2. "The Ghost Of Emma Jean" – 4:43
    • Brian Carpenter – vocal, harmonica
    • Orion Rigel Dommisse – chorus vocal
    • Kaethe Hostetter – violin
    • Julia Kent – cello
    • Brandon Seabrook – tenor banjo
    • Curtis Hasselbring – trombone
    • Ron Caswell – tuba
    • Matt McLaren – washboard
  3. "Hypnogogia" – 1:02
    • Brian Carpenter – harmonium, toy piano
    • Kaethe Hostetter – violin
    • Michael Hearst – theremin
    • Jesse Sparhawk – harp
  4. "Delirium Tremens" – 4:06
    • Brian Carpenter – vocal, brake drum
    • Alec K. Redfearn – accordion
    • Kaethe Hostetter – violin
    • Julia Kent – cello
    • Brandon Seabrook – tenor banjo
    • Ron Caswell – tuba
    • Matt McLaren – drums
    • Michael Hearst – theremin
    • Briggan Krauss – alto saxophone
    • M@ McNiss – chorus vocal
  5. "Lucid State" – 1:04
    • Kaethe Hostetter – violin
    • Helen Yee – violin
    • Chris Jenkins – viola
    • Steven Berson – cello
  6. "Death Fugue" – 3:11
    • Brian Carpenter – vocal, harmonium
    • Kaethe Hostetter – violin
    • Julia Kent – cello
    • Alec K. Redfearn – accordion
    • Ron Caswell – tuba
    • Matt McLaren – drums
    • Holly Brewer – chorus vocal
    • Briggan Krauss – alto saxophone
    • Frank Difficult – electronics
  7. "The Good Witch" – 0:44
    • Brian Carpenter – voice, harmonium
  8. "Dark Eyes" – 3:01
    • Kaethe Hostetter – violin
    • Julia Kent – cello
    • Alec K. Redfearn – accordion
    • Brian Carpenter – trumpet, tambourine
    • Briggan Krauss – alto saxophone
    • Brandon Seabrook – tenor banjo
    • Ron Caswell – tuba
  9. "Slavochka" – 4:08
    • Kaethe Hostetter – violin
    • Brian Carpenter – trumpet
    • Briggan Krauss – alto saxophone
    • Alec K. Redfearn – accordion
    • Curtis Hasselbring – trombone
    • Ron Caswell – tuba
    • Matt McLaren – drums
    • Julia Kent – cello
    • Brandon Seabrook – tenor banjo
  10. "The Gem Saloon" – 3:26
    • Brian Carpenter – vocal, harmonica, slide trumpet
    • Holly Brewer – vocal
    • Kaethe Hostetter – violin
    • Chris Jenkins – viola
    • Ron Caswell – tuba
    • Matt McLaren – washboard, brake drum, bass drum
    • Alec K. Redfearn – jawharp
    • Brandon Seabrook – tenor banjo, slide guitar
    • M@ McNiss – chain gang vocal
    • Dj Hazard – chain gang vocal
  11. "El Torero" – 1:20
    • Brian Carpenter – trumpet
    • Alec K. Redfearn – accordion
    • Kaethe Hostetter – violin
    • Ron Caswell – tuba
  12. "The Rough Riders" – 4:19
    • Brian Carpenter – trumpet
    • Kaethe Hostetter – violin
    • Briggan Krauss – alto saxophone
    • Brandon Seabrook – mandolin
    • Curtis Hasselbring – trombone
    • Alec K. Redfearn – accordion
    • Ron Caswell – tuba
    • Matt McLaren – drums
  13. "Coney Island Creepshow" – 3:32
    • Dj Hazard – outside talker
    • Brian Carpenter – outside talker, vocal, slide trumpet
    • M@ McNiss – outside talker
    • Alec K. Redfearn – accordion
    • Curtis Hasselbring – trombone
    • Ron Caswell – tuba
    • Matt McLaren – drums
    • Julia Kent – cello
    • Sxip Shirey – bells
    • Brian Dewan – electric zither
    • Michael Hearst – theremin
  14. "Hell Gate" – 2:37
    • Alec K. Redfearn – accordion, jawharp
    • Brian Carpenter – slide trumpet, trumpet, mellotron
    • Curtis Hasselbring – trombone
    • Ron Caswell – tuba
    • Matt McLaren – drums
    • Kaethe Hostetter – violin
    • Julia Kent – cello
    • Brian Dewan – electric zither
    • Michael Hearst – theremin
    • Jesse Sparhawk – harp
    • Sxip Shirey – extended pennywhistles, breath blasts
  15. "Meet Me Tonight In Dreamland" – 3:07
    • Todd Robbins – piano
  16. "March Of The Freaks" – 2:24
    • Brian Carpenter – slide trumpet, stomping, vocal
    • Alec K. Redfearn – accordion, stomping
    • Matt McLaren – drums, stomping
    • Ron Caswell – tuba
    • Brian Dewan – electric zither
    • Briggan Krauss – baritone saxophone

[edit] Performances

Brian Carpenter, Alec K. Redfearn, Kaethe Hostetter, Julia Kent, Brandon Seabrook, Briggan Krauss, Curtis Hasselbring, Ron Caswell, and Matt McLaren performed this material live in 2006 at several music venues in NYC, including Tonic, Brooklyn Academy Of Music, and Barbes.[2]

[edit] Trivia

  • Brian Dewan contributed the cover illustration and played electric zither on "Coney Island Creepshow", "Hell Gate", and "March Of The Freaks".
  • Coney Island executive director and star of "American Carny" Todd Robbins performed on "Meet Me Tonight In Dreamland" on an upright solo piano in Martin Bisi's B.C. Studios.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Sullivan, Jim. "Notes on Beat Circus", Boston Phoenix, 2008-1-11. Retrieved on 2008-01-12. 
  2. ^ Fitzell, Sean. "May 2006", All About Jazz New York, 2006-5-01. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.