LED CIRCUS

I'm really surprised no one has reviewed this yet.This is one of Simon Steensland's best albums. As usual we get that dark intense music that is inspired by UNIVERS ZERO, MAGMA, PRESENT and ART ZOYD. A lot of instruments are used here, too many to list but of note is the harmonium, cello, sax, accordion and marimba but there is much much more. By the way Simon can and does play pretty much every instument there is but he does get lots of help here most notably from the MATS / MORGAN duo who are two of the most incredible musicians i've ever heard on keyboards and drums respectively. Some will know Mats Gustafsson on sax too.

"Instant Jesus" is the over 16 minute opener and the most difficult for me to get into. It opens with lots of marimba, drums and other sounds before these drugged out sounding vocals join in. A calm 2 minutes in with quiet vocals and darkness. Cello and other sounds arrive as it all gets louder including the vocals which get a little crazy. It all kicks in at 3 1/2 minutes. Check out the dissonant sax 5 1/2 minutes in followed by a keyboard solo then some yelling and carrying on a minute later. Intense and dark. It settles before 7 1/2 minutes with accordion and it's still hauntingly dark. It kicks in again then it settles before 9 1/2 minutes. It kicks in hard at 14 minutes. Check out the drumming ! Guitar late. Amazing track. "Pinving" is melancholic and dark with harmonium, cello and accordion standing out. It picks up 4 minutes in with some killer guitar and pounding drums. Insane. "The Song Of The 4th Monkey" opens with marimba, accordion and other sounds. It picks up quickly with chunky bass. It settles back 1 1/2 minutes in. Check out the dissonant harmonica solo after 2 1/2 minutes. I don't think i've ever said that before. This is great !

"The Dance Itself" hits the ground running with a heavy rhythm and lots of guitar. A creepy calm follows. "Psychlone" is UNIVERS ZERO-like with the intricate sounds and dark mood. Distorted guitar comes ripping in and check out the drum work. It starts to settle down 2 minutes in then kicks back in after 4 minutes. What an intense track. "Angels Without Eyes" is kind of haunting as eerie female vocal melodies join in.The electric guitar before 3 minutes is cool then the vocal melodies continue. "Dwarf Suite" is the 18 minute closer. What an intro ! It settles in and it's dark.The drums and marimba become prominant. It eases up before 3 minutes but not for long. A calm before 5 minutes with accordion. A change after 6 minutes and the intensity is building before 8 minutes. It settles 9 1/2 minutes in to a haunting soundscape. Accordion and marimba before 12 minutes. Drums a minute later. Cello before 14 minutes then it picks up a minute later. It eases up with deep bass sounds before 17 minutes.

Well if you like PRESENT or UNIVERS ZERO you probably will love this album. Easily 4.5 stars.