Circus No. 9
Bonfire, 2022
8/10
The Tennessee outfit Circus No. 9 return with 11 new tracks, where Americana, folk and bluegrass are explored with precision and warmth thanks to Thomas Cassell (mandolin, mandola, vocals) Vince Ilagan (bass, vocals), Matthew Davis (banjo, vocals), and Ben Garnett’s (guitar, electric guitar, electronics, vocals) powerful and memorable chemistry.
“To The Lighthouse” opens the listen with intimacy, as the calm setting builds into both a tense and pretty landscape, and “The Place That I Call Home” follows with precise and soaring string interaction, where the cozy vocals guide the timeless bluegrass sounds.
In the middle, the dreamy climate of “Forever More” allows for the intimate vocals to radiate much emotion, while “Kind Of Cool” spotlights Jeff Sipe’s drumming acrobatics as slight jazz moments enter with much style.
Approaching the end, “West Point, IA” features John Mailander’s stirring fiddle for the lush, atmospheric album highlight, and “Scaffold Song” exits with Aoife O’Donovan’s lovely pipes adding even more beauty to the soft and mesmerizing finish.
A progressive version of bluegrass, Circus No. 9 are turning heads everywhere they go, and at this rate they’re quickly making new fans with a unique version of acoustic song craft that is easy to enjoy and difficult to forget.
Travels well with: Wilson Banjo Co.- Six Degrees Of Separation; Turning Ground- Crazy Horse