Album Review: Hallelujah Circus

While Mount Maunganui’s main export may be alcohol hazed memories of a mid-summer New Year’s festival well spent, my favourite export is probably Matt Bodman & the Valentine Grind.

Released in 2013, Hallelujah Circus might be old news to some. However, with news of a forthcoming release, this is an opportune time to revisit a relatively unknown release from a superlatively talented collective that deserve more exposure.

Although an old idiom suggests, one can’t judge a book by its cover, the music of Hallelujah Circus is just as colourful as the art that adorns the front. Piano Pop meets Pop Rock with the occasional sojourn into operatic territory. It’s not a style usually aspired to these days, not in this country.

The music is ambitious and epic; more than just a boy with a piano, some ideas and a backing band. Not something you’d expect from a previous Punk adherent. It really is an onion of record; some good songs layered with complimentary instruments and melodies.

The closest stylistic example of this style, present company excluded, would be Christchurch’s Sleeping Dogs. Both bands create these moments of cinematic glory, like a score to some big budget product of Hollywood.

In the words of Anthonie Tonnon (former bandmate): “this is what I wish commercial radio sounded like.” (http://www.offthetracks.co.nz/five-albums-im-loving-right-now-anthonie-tonnon/).

You can find Hallelujah Circus and Bodman et al’s previous release Burn on Bandcamp. Look out for news of the new release, coming soon.