THE SLAMBOVIAN CIRCUS OF DREAMS – A Box Of Everything (Red River RRECD134)

A Box Of EverythingWith an extensive UK tour just a few weeks away The Slambovian Circus Of Dreams re-issue (or issue) their “greatest hits” collection in the UK. I got my copy direct from the USA two years ago, via Tink Lloyd’s own fair hand – they had sold out when I heard them live in 2014. It’s now been six years since The Grand Slambovians and the band had been taking some time out – that’s purely relative, of course, as a glance at their website will prove.

A Box Of Everything is a best of collection with the addition of three new songs which also marked Eric Puente’s recording debut with the band. As these things do Eric has moved on and Felipe Torres now occupies the drum stool but Sharkey McEwan is still the axeman. The first of the new songs is the title track, a rather tender love song, which is followed immediately by ‘Tink (I Know It’s You)’ – we get it, Joziah. The next is ‘A Very Unusual Head’ which is something of a tribute to Syd Barratt and early Pink Floyd and is rumoured to be the title of the band’s next studio album. Finally among the new songs comes ‘Alligators’, the final encore in 2014, both songs suggesting a new levity in Joziah Longo’s writing.

Fans will have differing opinions as to what constitutes “the best” of the Slambovians and I would have liked ‘Northern Sea’ but it’s not included. Joziah opens the set with his best Dylan voice on ‘Rocket’ and all the essential songs are in place: ‘Talkin’ To The Buddah’, ‘The Trans-Slambovian Bi-Polar Express’, ‘Very Happy Now’ and ‘Sunday In The Rain’ among them. If you’ve not heard The Slambovian Circus Of Dreams before this is a good place to start and if you then want to jump in the deep end grab Flapjacks From The Sky and become a complete Slambovian.

Dai Jeffries

Artists’ website: www.slambovia.com

‘A Box Of Everything’ live:


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