Upon returning from the U.K. this fall where they spread their contagious brand of quirky Americana from Glasgow to Penzance, the Gandalf Murphy & The Slambovian Circus of Dreams completed work on their soul stirring fourth studio album, “The Grand Slambovians”, which is their new moniker for the current tour.
Joziah Longo, (lead singer/songwriter for the band) describes the new collection of songs as – “A more extreme dose of what we’ve always been – a country prison music meets British invasion type of thing”. For the uninitiated, the band has an all over the map melodic avant folk style, an apt description, particularly if you throw in elements of Incredible String Band, Neil Young, The Band, Dylan, and maybe even some Frank Zappa as well. They may term it ‘Hillbilly-Pink Floyd’ and they do have an air of both Floyd and maybe Bowie at times, atop their folkcountry roots but it’s done with a warmth and comfort of a mystical Nebraska or poetic Crazy Horse.
Equal parts Washington Irving and Woodstock, the band taps a broad palette of styles ranging from dusty Americana ballads to huge Pink Floydesque cinematic anthems, playing art school roots rock and sometimes folk and quirky Americana.
They possess an exotic instrumental arsenal (accordion, cello, mandolin, theremin) in addition to standard rock regalia.
Band Members:
Joziah Longo – vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica
Tink Lloyd – accordion, cello, theremin, piccolo, ukelele, bg vocals
Sharkey McEwen – slide guitars and mandolin, bg vocals
Tony Zuzulo – drums, percussion
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NetRhythms UK CD, DVD and Book Reviews / Mike Davies March 2011
Gandalf Murphy & The Slambovian Circus of Dreams - The Grand Slambovians
"This is easily the outfits rootsiest album and quite possibly their best ... if this doesn’t bring them the breakout success they deserve to go with the critical acclaim for both their studio work and live shows, then there’s little hope for the world."
They’ve been called a 'hillbilly-Pink Floyd' and likened to Bowie, but, save for All The Dead Little People and Windmills vaguely recalling the latter circa Life On Mars, neither comparisons would leap to mind listening to the fourth album from Joziah Longo and his three strong troupe of fellow musicians.
Rather ringing, train-chugging opener The Trans-Slambovian BiPolar Express is what you might get had Neil Diamond fronted the Heartbreakers and played slide guitar while the gently rolling Lost Highway is an Americana Velvets and waltzing sway Who Is This Girl? might be Leonard Cohen cloned with Dylan with gypsy encampment mandolin.
This is easily the outfits rootsiest album and quite possibly their best and most immediately accessible as they turn on their foot tapping early REM pop sensibilities for the bounce along Very Happy Now, dip into Eastern billowing pyschedelia with Ravenous Way (pronounced raven as in the bird) and ride a dreamy summery ocean breeze for Up Above My Head.
Pink Floyd may have been left on the benches, but they still field the hillbilly on the title track driving folk blues with gutbucket guitar and what I’d assume was jaw harp were it not for the fact it’s not mentioned on the musician credits.
Rounding out with Northern Sea’s slow shanty love song and its tumbling folk chorus and that hint of the Incredible String Band, if this doesn’t bring them the breakout success they deserve to go with the critical acclaim for both their studio work and live shows, then there’s little hope for the world.
www.slambovia.com
www.myspace.com/gandalfmurphyandtheslamboviancircusofdreams
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