Mona – The Carnivorous Circus

Mona—The Carnivorous Circus
Studio album by Mick Farren
Released March 1970
Recorded December 1969, Sound Techniques, London
Genre Psychedelic rock
Label Transatlantic Records - TRA212
Producer Mick Farren
Mick Farren chronology
Think Pink
(1970)
Mona—The Carnivorous Circus
(1970)
Never Never Land
(1971)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]

Mona—The Carnivorous Circus is a 1970 album by the UK underground artist Mick Farren.

The album was recorded to fulfill contractual obligations. Farren had recently returned from a tour of the west coast of North America with his band The Deviants, who had relieved the singer of his duties.

Farren recalls that "I was crazy when I did Mona—really mentally ill. If I listen to it I can still feel it. Maybe I should have chilled out for a few months before making the album, but I was a bit depressed, and I thought I'd just do it entirely my own way for the first time."[2] The subject matter is dark and the music very often discordant and dissonant.

"Carnivorous Circus" is a montage of song and spoken word, featuring an interview with a Hells Angel, Steve Took recounting time he spent in Ashford Remand Centre, and recordings of political speeches. The cello on "Mona" was provided by Paul Buckmaster, who had demonstrated to Farren the similarities between Bo Diddley and Béla Bartók.

Contents

Track listing

  1. "Mona (A Fragment)" (Ellas McDaniel) – 3:15
  2. "Carnivorous Circus, Part 1" (Farren) – 15:19
    1. "The Whole Thing Starts"
    2. "But Charlie, It's Still Moving"
    3. "Observe The Ravens"
    4. "Society of the Horsemen"
  3. "Summertime Blues" (Eddie Cochran, Jerry Capehart) – 2:41
  4. "Carnivorous Circus, Part 2" (Farren) – 13:01
    1. "Don't Talk to Me Mary"
    2. "You Can't Move Me"
    3. "In My Window Box"
    4. "An Epitaph Can Point the Way"
  5. "Mona (The Whole Trip)" (Ellas McDaniel) – 7:25

Personnel

Technical

Release history

References

  1. ^ Allmusic review
  2. ^ The Deviants 3, 1999 CD issue liner notes

External links