Dreamland (Beat Circus album)
Encyclopedia
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
. Dreamland marks the first installment of Carpenter's Weird American Gothic trilogy.
at his B.C. Studios in Brooklyn, New York.
Beat Circus
Beat Circus is a band from Boston, Massachusetts fronted by multi-instrumentalist / singer-songwriter Brian Carpenter, who has been its only constant member since its inception.-Musical style:...
. It was released on January 29, 2008 by Cuneiform Records
Cuneiform Records
Cuneiform Records is an independent record label based in Silver Spring, Maryland.The label releases a mixture of musical styles, including progressive jazz, modern fusion music, progressive rock, the Canterbury Scene and electronic music...
, and shares its title with the turn-of-the-century Coney Island
Coney Island
Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
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
Brian Carpenter (musician)
Brian Carpenter is an American composer, multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and radio producer. He is the lead singer and songwriter for the Boston, Massachusetts band Beat Circus. His primary instrument is the trumpet. He also leads the Ghost Train Orchestra in New York City...
and produced by Martin Bisi
Martin bisi
Martin Bisi is an American producer and songwriter.He is known for recording important records by Sonic Youth, Swans, John Zorn, Material, Bill Laswell, Helmet, Unsane, Cop Shoot Cop, White Zombie, Boredoms, Angels of Light and Herbie Hancock's Grammy-winning song Rockit,In 1979, Martin Bisi...
. Album artwork was created by Brian Dewan
Brian Dewan
Brian Dewan is an artist who works in many media, including art, music, audio-visual performances, decorative painting, furniture design, poetry and musical instrument design. He has produced three albums of songs and concertized extensively as a solo artist, as well as having performed in various...
. Dreamland marks the first installment of Carpenter's Weird American Gothic trilogy.
Track listing
All songs written by Brian Carpenter, except where noted. Recorded in 2006 by Martin BisiMartin bisi
Martin Bisi is an American producer and songwriter.He is known for recording important records by Sonic Youth, Swans, John Zorn, Material, Bill Laswell, Helmet, Unsane, Cop Shoot Cop, White Zombie, Boredoms, Angels of Light and Herbie Hancock's Grammy-winning song Rockit,In 1979, Martin Bisi...
at his B.C. Studios in Brooklyn, New York.
- "Gyp The Blood" – 2:22
- Brian CarpenterBrian Carpenter (musician)Brian Carpenter is an American composer, multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and radio producer. He is the lead singer and songwriter for the Boston, Massachusetts band Beat Circus. His primary instrument is the trumpet. He also leads the Ghost Train Orchestra in New York City...
– junk percussion - Kaethe Hostetter – violin
- Julia KentJulia KentJulia Kent is a New York City-based, Canadian-born cellist who is best known as an original member of the all-cello group Rasputina, and later on as a member of Antony and the Johnsons....
– cello - Brandon Seabrook – tenor banjo
- Curtis Hasselbring – trombone
- Ron Caswell – tuba
- Matt McLaren – drums
- Michael HearstMichael HearstMichael Marcus Hearst is a composer, multi-instrumentalist, and writer. His musical instruments include claviola, theremin, guitar, piano, drums and bass...
– theremin
- Brian Carpenter
- "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
- "Hypnogogia" – 1:02
- Brian Carpenter – harmonium, toy piano
- Kaethe Hostetter – violin
- Michael Hearst – theremin
- Jesse Sparhawk – harp
- "Delirium Tremens" – 4:06
- Brian Carpenter – vocal, brake drum
- Alec K. RedfearnAlec K. RedfearnAlec K Redfearn is a musician and composer based out of Providence, Rhode Island. He has composed music for dance, theater, and film. His primary instrument is the accordion...
– 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
- "Lucid State" – 1:04
- Kaethe Hostetter – violin
- Helen Yee – violin
- Chris Jenkins – viola
- Steven Berson – cello
- "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
- "The Good Witch" – 0:44
- Brian Carpenter – voice, harmonium
- "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
- "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
- "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
- "El Torero" – 1:20
- Brian Carpenter – trumpet
- Alec K. Redfearn – accordion
- Kaethe Hostetter – violin
- Ron Caswell – tuba
- "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
- "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 ShireySxip ShireyGene "Sxip" Shirey is an American composer, performer, and story-teller. He grew up in Athens, Ohio and currently resides in New York City. Sxip started experimenting with found sound composition and extended instrument techniques when asked to compose music for Ohio University’s modern dance...
– bells - Brian DewanBrian DewanBrian Dewan is an artist who works in many media, including art, music, audio-visual performances, decorative painting, furniture design, poetry and musical instrument design. He has produced three albums of songs and concertized extensively as a solo artist, as well as having performed in various...
– electric zither - Michael Hearst – theremin
- "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
- "Meet Me Tonight In Dreamland" – 3:07
- Todd Robbins – piano
- "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
Musicians
- Brian CarpenterBrian Carpenter (musician)Brian Carpenter is an American composer, multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and radio producer. He is the lead singer and songwriter for the Boston, Massachusetts band Beat Circus. His primary instrument is the trumpet. He also leads the Ghost Train Orchestra in New York City...
- Vocals, Harmonica, Pump Organ, Trumpet, Toy Piano, Tambourine, Slide Trumpet, Percussion - Alec K. RedfearnAlec K. RedfearnAlec K Redfearn is a musician and composer based out of Providence, Rhode Island. He has composed music for dance, theater, and film. His primary instrument is the accordion...
- Accordion, Jawharp - Brandon Seabrook - Tenor Banjo, Slide Guitar, Mandolin
- Kaethe Hostetter - Violin, Viola
- Julia KentJulia KentJulia Kent is a New York City-based, Canadian-born cellist who is best known as an original member of the all-cello group Rasputina, and later on as a member of Antony and the Johnsons....
- Cello - Briggan Krauss - Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone
- Matt McLaren - Drums, Brake Drums, Washboard, Percussion
- Ron Caswell - Tuba
- Curtis Hasselbring - Trombone
- Brian DewanBrian DewanBrian Dewan is an artist who works in many media, including art, music, audio-visual performances, decorative painting, furniture design, poetry and musical instrument design. He has produced three albums of songs and concertized extensively as a solo artist, as well as having performed in various...
- Electric Zither - Chris Jenkins - Viola
- Steven Berson - Cello
- Helen Yee - Violin
- Michael HearstMichael HearstMichael Marcus Hearst is a composer, multi-instrumentalist, and writer. His musical instruments include claviola, theremin, guitar, piano, drums and bass...
- Theremin - Sxip ShireySxip ShireyGene "Sxip" Shirey is an American composer, performer, and story-teller. He grew up in Athens, Ohio and currently resides in New York City. Sxip started experimenting with found sound composition and extended instrument techniques when asked to compose music for Ohio University’s modern dance...
- Bells, Triple-Extended Pennywhistle, Breath Blasts - Jesse Sparhawk - Harp
- Todd RobbinsTodd RobbinsTodd Robbins is an American magician, lecturer, actor, and author.-Biography:He was born in Long Beach, California, the son of soap executive and a schoolteacher. In 1980 he moved to New York City to pursue a career in theater...
- Upright Piano - Frank Difficult - Electronics
- Orion Rigel Dommisse - Vocals
- Holly Brewer - Vocals
- M@ McNiss - Vocals
- DJ Hazard - Voice
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 DewanBrian DewanBrian Dewan is an artist who works in many media, including art, music, audio-visual performances, decorative painting, furniture design, poetry and musical instrument design. He has produced three albums of songs and concertized extensively as a solo artist, as well as having performed in various...
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 veteran Todd RobbinsTodd RobbinsTodd Robbins is an American magician, lecturer, actor, and author.-Biography:He was born in Long Beach, California, the son of soap executive and a schoolteacher. In 1980 he moved to New York City to pursue a career in theater...
performed on "Meet Me Tonight In Dreamland" on an upright solo piano in Martin BisiMartin bisiMartin Bisi is an American producer and songwriter.He is known for recording important records by Sonic Youth, Swans, John Zorn, Material, Bill Laswell, Helmet, Unsane, Cop Shoot Cop, White Zombie, Boredoms, Angels of Light and Herbie Hancock's Grammy-winning song Rockit,In 1979, Martin Bisi...
's B.C. Studios.