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. Album artwork was created by Brian Dewan, who also performed electric zither on the album. Dreamland marks the first installment of Carpenter's Weird American Gothic trilogy.
Track listing All music and lyrics by Brian Carpenter, except "Dark Eyes" and "Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland". Recorded in 2006 by Martin Bisi at his B.C. Studios in Brooklyn, New York.
"Gyp the Blood" – 2:22 "The Ghost of Emma Jean" – 4:43 "Hypnogogia" – 1:02 "Delirium Tremens" – 4:06 "Lucid State" – 1:04 "Death Fugue" – 3:11 "The Good Witch" – 0:44 "Dark Eyes" – 3:01 "Slavochka" – 4:08 "The Gem Saloon" – 3:26 "El Torero" – 1:20 "The Rough Riders" – 4:19 "Coney Island Creepshow" – 3:32 "Hell Gate" – 2:37 "Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland" – 3:07 "March of the Freaks" – 2:24
Musicians Brian Carpenter - Vocals, Harmonica, Pump Organ, Trumpet, Toy Piano, Tambourine, Slide Trumpet, Percussion Alec K. Redfearn - Accordion, Jawharp Brandon Seabrook - Tenor Banjo, Slide Guitar, Mandolin Kaethe Hostetter - Violin, Viola Julia Kent - Cello Briggan Krauss - Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone Matt McLaren - Drums, Brake Drums, Washboard, Percussion Ron Caswell - Tuba Curtis Hasselbring - Trombone Brian Dewan - Electric Zither Chris Jenkins - Viola Steven Berson - Cello Helen Yee - Violin Michael Hearst - Theremin Sxip Shirey - Bells, Triple-Extended Pennywhistle, Breath Blasts Jesse Sparhawk - Harp Todd Robbins - Upright Piano Frank Difficult - Electronics Orion Rigel Dommisse - Vocals Holly Brewer - Vocals M@ McNiss - Vocals DJ Hazard - Outside Talker
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.
Trivia Brian Dewan contributed the cover illustration and played electric zither on "Coney Island Creepshow", "Hell Gate", and "March Of The Freaks". Magician, sideshow performer, and Coney Island alum Todd Robbins performed on "Meet Me Tonight In Dreamland" on an upright solo piano in Martin Bisi's B.C. Studios. Veteran stand-up comedian DJ Hazard performed on "Coney Island Creepshow" as the outside talker.
References