BOY FROM BLACK MOUNTAIN

Following two decent albums that nonetheless sound at times like samplers, Brian Carpenter and the Beat Circus sound finally congeal into something both cohesive and eminently memorable. 'Boy From Black Mountain' reveals Carpenter's A-League game, both completing his "Weird American Gothic" trilogy and announcing the arrival of a serious contender for the next great American music icon.

The previous albums 'Dreamland' and 'Ringleader's Revolt' primarily tackled subjects of fairly obscure United States history as well as absurd vignettes centered around themes of circuses, vaudeville and a time when Americans were as naïve as they were brash and indefatigably optimistic and blithe about their harsh but promising existence. This time around the subject matter is a bit darker, but every bit as energetic and uncompromising.

Carpenter took his young autistic son as inspiration for much of this material, and his compassionate yet stalwart sense of love and survival come through poignantly on the gorgeous title track and on "Saturn Song" ("boy from Saturn, he doesn't deal too well with crowds?").

Elsewhere he spins the hard yarn of a watermelon-farming family ("The Life You Save May be your Own"); a docile coal miner ("Petrified Man"); and a brash country kid turned gunslinger facing down his brother's murderer ("The Quick and the Dead"), all set to steam- train chugging rhythms with a musical heartbeat befitting the millions who toiled to create their nation.

Carpenter surrounds himself with a remarkable cast of stellar musicians, most notably the flawless violinist Paran Amirinazari, violist Jordan Voelker and Girls Guns and Glory string bassist Paul Dilley. Andrew Stern of Boston trio Fat Little Bastard delivers on guitar and banjo, while Doug LaRosa (trombone), Ron Caswell (tuba) and Gavin McCarthy (drums) anchor the delightful collage of sounds. Carpenter himself does most of the singing when he's not blasting his trumpet or playing harmonica, harmonium accordion and piano. To a man and woman each member delivers with superb professionalism and passion. The octet shows their chops most concisely on the four instrumental tracks, particularly the closing "Lullaby for Alexander". Former Rasputina cellist Julia Kent, folk-chanteuse Larkin Grimm and former Zorgina vocalist Ellen Santaniello also make guest appearances.

I could go on for quite a while about each track on this album, but would have to preface that exercise with a spoiler alert, and frankly any fan of genuine Americana music deserves to experience the album for themselves. I can't quite bring myself to tag this one a masterpiece, but it sure as hell is about as close as you can get and who know, maybe time will prove me wrong. Four out of five stars and very enthusiastically recommended. Try Beat Circus on for size, you won't regret the trip.

peace