When I first heard about this band with Cirkus in the band name and theater in their genes I thought it’d be perfect for Swedesplease. See, I must admit to being a big fan of certain Broadway musicals. Plays and their accompanying soundtracks, like Hair, Hedwig, and even Rocky Horror Picture Show informed my musical tastes at a very early age. And the experience of being at the Circus is one of my earliest memories and I continue to attend Ringling Bros every year with my two sons.
Pär Hagström & Cirkus Transmopol have created an album that is meant to be performed live in it’s entirety. So it was hard to pick out just one track to share from this theatrical concept album. But choose I did.
And “Mysterious Grace” lives up to the challenge. It’s a slinky, Nick Cave-ish accordion and jazz guitar number that wouldn’t feel out of place in one of Wim Wender’s dark opuses.
December Rose is out now and can be ordered directly through the Swedish label Strawberry Records here.
“The Night The World Came Down” video
“Stupid Clown” live video