tracks

Murieta's Last Ride
These Wicked Things
Bad Motel
Just a Lost, Lost Dream
Crow Killer
Gone, Gone, Gone
The Girl from the West Country
Rosita (Tango)
The Key
All the Pretty Horses
Rosita (Huapango)
Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came
The Evening Redness in the West
The Last Man (Is Anybody Out There?)
Long Way Home

notes

These Wicked Things is the fourth release from the determinedly
eclectic Boston-based band Beat Circus and the final installment in
singer/multi-instrumentalist/composer Brian Carpenter’s “Weird
American Gothic” trilogy. The record bridges a number of disparate
genres including experimental music, cowpunk, post-punk, Mexican
folk music, mariachi music, and “spaghetti western” and giallo film
scores. The cover and booklet include a 18-page graphic novelette by
renowned Croatian artist Danijel Zezelj, best known for his live
paintings, multimedia, and collaborations with DC Comics/Vertigo.

"Full of surreal audio landscapes put together in strange and often unsettling ways" - John Schaefer, WNYC New Sounds

"Beat Circus is a bona fide Boston music institution...one part edgy, eclectic art ensemble, one part twangy, moody roots-rock outfit, combined in an instantly appealing mix." -- Steve Smith, National Sawdust

"An excellent album, buzzing with ideas and unrelentingly following its dark muse" -- Jonathan Aird, Americana UK, 8/10 stars

"A well-orchestrated exploration of a deep and immersive headspace" -- Andrew Marrocco, Spill Magazine, 8/10 stars

"A sound scavenged from a virtual musical bazaar — from noir jazz and dark cowboy soundtracks to steampunk chamber music and gringo mariachi, with stark, black-and-white illustrations from graphic novelist Danijel Zezelj" -- James Sullivan, Boston Globe

"With an excellent choice of collaborators (guitarist Andrew Stern particularly shines), Giant Sand, Calexico and Neko Case producer Craig Schumacher, the biggest chunk of the parts go to Carpenter himself, with deadpan vocals and all of the instrumental embellishments he put in himself." -- Ljubinko Zivkovic, Soundblab, 8/10 stars
credits
released March 22, 2019

Beat Circus
These Wicked Things

Produced by Brian Carpenter
All music and lyrics by Brian Carpenter
Recorded by Rafi Sofer at Q Division, Somerville MA
Vocals and strings recorded by Bryce Goggin at Trout Recording, Brooklyn NY
Stephen Ulrich and Jacob Valenzuela recorded by Chris Schultz at Wavelab, Tucson MA

Mixed by Craig Schumacher at Wavelab, Tucson AZ
1, 12, and 13 mixed by Rafi Sofer at Q Division, Somerville MA
Mastered by JJ Golden at Golden Mastering, Ventura CA

Artwork by Danijel Zezelj
Layout and design by Maricar/Maricor

Beat Circus
Brian Carpenter, vocals, harmonica, piano, bells, trumpet, jawharp, turntables
Andrew Stern, guitar, baritone guitar, acoustic guitar
Alec Spiegelman, bass clarinet, tenor saxophone, flute, backing vocals
Abigale Reisman, violin, backing vocals
Emily Bookwalter, viola, backing vocals
Jordan Voelker, viola, backing vocals, saw
Paul Dilley, double bass, electric bass
Gavin McCarthy, drums

Additional musicians
Brad Balliett, bassoon on "Crow Killer"
Catherine Bent, cello on "Crow Killer"
Quinn Carson, trombone
Ron Caswell, tuba
Bill Cole, Chinese suona on "The Evening Redness in the West"
Dana Colley, bass saxophone on "Bad Motel" and "These Wicked Things"
Tomas Cruz, backing vocals, voice of Murieta on "Rosita (huapango)"
Gita Drummond, boy's voice on "Childe Roland"
Adam Sachs, hand percussion
Jane Scarpantoni, cello
Stephen Ulrich, lap steel on "The Last Man (Is There Anybody Out There?)"
Jacob Valenzuela, mariachi trumpet on "Rosita (huapango)"
license
all rights reserved

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