Drum Circus ~ Switzerland

Magic Theatre (1972 / 2003)

---Nov 2004

The 21 minute title track is unlike anything I’ve ever heard (when was the last time you could say that?). I cannot compare it to anything. It’s purely avant-garde rock. I could see it having an academic title like “Modern Percussion and Spoken Word Concerto with Rock, Jazz, and Eastern Instrumentation”. It’s the sort of track that gets in your head and eventually becomes a masterpiece, or you realize at some point it’s all just nonsense. I’m not sure where it will go yet with me. Dzyan's Peter Giger is the primary composer on Magic Theatre. His other two compositions aren’t that much easier to digest with Timothy Leary providing the "enlightened" lyrics. Joel Vandroogenbroeck’s short offering reminds me of the opening tracks of Cottonwood Hill. Otherwise, the album has a distinctly MPS jazz-rock school approach ala Association P.C. The eight minute ‘Groove Rock’ is the highlight of the album (from drummer Alex Bally) and it comes from this latter school. Clearly this is not a cohesive effort and each tune represents what they would do on their own. A really weird album, but one that is strangely satisfying.

---4/27/26

And that was the last time I heard this CD. Brainticket's Joel Vandroogenbroeck is the primary difference between this being an all-percussion album, and something far more dimensional. He plays organ, piano, flute, and sitar. Other than saxophone and bass, those are the featured instruments. 'Groove Rock' really does live up to its name, and has one mesmerizing driving beat. Gerd Dudek's saxophone, while quite spirited, is mostly in control and very enjoyable. I find the five shorter tracks here (would be Side 2?) to be the stronger material here. The lengthy title track opens up, though, after hearing the remainder. Perhaps it should have been presented last, to give better context.

Of interest, the other drummer-leader of the band, Marc Hellman, would later be found in the obscure group Lost Peace, a CDRWL favorite.

Ownership: 2003 Garden of Delights (CD). Thick booklet with historical liner notes and many archival photos. Acquired in 2004.

11//04 (review); 4/27/26 (update / new entry)