Search - Bobby Previte, Harvie Swartz :: Urban Earth

Almost indescribable. But absolutely super.

Kimba W. Lion | the East Coast | 04/23/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Bobby Previte's "Music of the Moscow Circus" is one of the greatest finds in my collection. I'm sorry to see it's out of print and surprised to see no one else has written a review for it. I don't think I'm up to the job. Here's the track list:
1=Overture
2=Russian Bar
3=Crazy Clown
4=One Hand on the Wheel
5=Confused Clown
6=Spring, Beauty, and the Muse
7=March Clown
8=Spring Steps Out
9=Comic Clown
10=The Melody. And the Melody Inside That
11=Congo Clown
12=Rattango
13=More Confused Clown
14=Seven Alarm
15=Finale
16=Thunder and BlazesThe title of Track 10 sums up the whole CD: Previte takes the familiar and plays it forwards, backwards, and inside out, fast and slow, to deconstruct it and let us see what's inside the music. It's avant garde, but it's accessible. It's strange, but it's not unfamiliar. It's a stage show and an education in music. "Overture" depicts the most frenetic, crazed circus you can imagine. "Thunder and Blazes", the familiar circus march, becomes a nocturne, featuring a bowed bass violin. This CD is a wild rollercoaster ride, and I love every minute of it."