Clouds on the Road

Live performances from Australia and New Zealand.

1. Thousands or More (listen here- broadband)
2. King Willy
3. Freedom’s on the Wallaby
4. The Shape of Things
5. Violet Sarah/Hannah May’s
6. The Briar and the Rose
7. The Miner’s Washing
8. The Calico Printer’s Clerk
9. Dance Up The Sun
10. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
11. Wasn’t That A Party?
12. The Van Song
13. The Wooden Spoon (listen here- broadband)
14. Time is a Tempest

Here’s a review:

The Circus of Desires CD
Review by John Holmberg

What do you do when you’re down…havin’ a hard time? One thing that works for me, by way of an escape to an energizing good place, is to throw myself into a music project…or even just some good tunes or a heart-felt song out on the verandah. John Thompson and Nicole Murray say the idea for the title song of their new CD “The Circus of Desires” came from a sometimes-difficult year. The song, and indeed the whole CD, evokes the “real magic” out there in the creative cosmos. The connections and seminal discoveries that come with the hard work of touring internationally; the sense of cultural occasion that comes from a shinning performance or an unexpected impromptu collaboration on stage; the process of bringing new songs into existence or developing a new take on an old song: all of these are a part of that serendipitous place called the “The Circus of Desires”.

Hard deliveries sometimes bring the most cherished offspring. After some time of wanting to get traction on this new album, real momentum accelerated early this year and Nicole and John are justifiably excited about their new baby. The CD is skilfully and effectively arranged and produced. They’ve tried lots of effective new production and arrangement ideas. There is a bodhran-beating heart behind the tender rendering of David Francey’s lament on lost love “The Waking Hour”. There is a brass arrangement by Mal Webb in “Bill and the Bear” that creates the proper pomp and circumstance for John’s epic saga song. It tells of an Aussie strongman that heroically wrestled a bear in the travelling Wirth’s Circus at the turn of the twentieth century. Vicki Swan and Jonny Dyer, friends from Essex, make several choice, cyber-contributions on double bass and piano, e-mailed from England. Erin Sulman (Barleyshakes) provides the subtle and effective percussion.

Three of the best songs on the album are written by John and two lovely tunes are penned by Nicole. In addition to “Bill and the Bear” and “The Circus of Desire” mentioned above, John’s “The Green Man”, written in 1999, is here given new life. It has an evocative melody and wonderful harmony singing which help bring to life this celebration of the natural world and the inspiration and lessons garnered from observing it. The Clockwork Elephant Set is not only a great name for a tune set, evoking the bowed bass unpinning the concertina and flutes, but also the tunes are memorable in their form and unusual instrumentation. Again we see the fruits of a life of travels and touring as the first tune is a Swedish “sung polka”. It evokes the moderate tempo and yearning of the contemplative human voice. Nicole’s tune “The Waltz of the Kitchenpipers” was written for the wedding of their friends Vicki and John in England and has a great feeling of significant occasion.

Cloudstreet lovers will find, in addition to the new treats above, lots of what the duo have always done so well: great arrangements of traditional ballads, some of them rare and offbeat; and wonderful harmony singing supporting stirring lead vocals. So come along to the The Circus of Desires. While you are under the Big Top and the CD is unwinding you can forget your troubles, acknowledge your desires, and be transported on the magic of the muse these two gifted musicians have forged out of a life dedicated to their music.