Calling yourself, “Sweden’s best kept rock secret” is somewhat bold a statement. But you know what, I certainly had never heard of Dexter Jones’ Circus Orchestra and Side By Side is the best sun-licked feel-good rock album I have heard in some time so I can’t deny that they may just have a point. The main thing that has had this on constant rotation as spring beams its sheen through the living room window is due to the fact that this is an album that is so simplistic and unchallenging it has made a change to getting immersed in a musical concept that demands being dissected in every fashion. I am not saying that this is bland by any stretch but it is uncomplicated and a joy to listen to; the under-indulgent compact 37 minute running time just keeps making me think, “Ok just one more spin then,” which is just what a good CD should set out to do.
The harmonious bluesy guitar acoustics on ‘Lock The Cage’ divulge into some classic nasally vocals augmenting the melody, which keeps upping the stakes and bursting into a delirious refrain that is instantly both familiar and infectious. The singer / songwriter style is classic in every respect here and without wanting to namedrop similar acts (I would possibly be out of my depth here) this sounds like it was around in the 70s’ and has a distinct retro hum all over it.
A Southern twang seeps into the guitar pinching riff of ‘Nyby’ giving an arid desert feel perhaps in line with Kyuss jamming with Lynyrd Skynyrd whilst Bob Dylan sits round the camp fire skinning up. This is even emphasised by ‘We Don’t Care’, a track that simply doesn’t give a damn, with lyrics that would be more at home screamed out by an Anarcho punk band this is a stoner anthem (in a mellow fashion, ya hear) of the highest order.
Folk acoustics add enchantment to ‘The Sensation’, beautifully atmospheric and with a melody that will have you shivering. Strangely though, every time I hear this I cannot shake the fact that it sounds like Sting singing! Stoner Police alert anyone? ‘In The Lions Pit’ is the single and not surprisingly. It hints at ‘Born To Be Wild’ in the rhythm here albeit in a lazy way, born to be wild if I wasn’t too stoned to get up off my ass perhaps. This is another one for singing along to and has every right to storm the charts.
There is nothing in the way of fat to cut here, every single songs a winner and once you have played it a few times they are going to be in your head for months. It seems that DJCO are visiting these shores with a few dates with Josiah in May/June, it may well be time to “roll up, roll up” and visit the circus whilst it’s in town.
www.myspace.com/dexterjonescircusorchestra
www.circusorchestra.com