Mona – The Carnivorous Circus

Infobox Album
Name = Mona – The Carnivorous Circus
Type = Studio Album
Artist = Mick Farren


Released = March 1970
Recorded = December 1969, Sound Techniques, London
Genre = Psychedelic rock
Length =
Label = Transatlantic Records - TRA212
Producer =
Reviews =
Last album = "Think Pink" (1970)
This album = "Mona – The Carnivorous Circus" (1970)
Next album = "Never Never Land" (1971)

"Mona – The Carnivorous Circus" is a 1970 album by the UK underground artist Mick Farren.

The album was recorded to fulfil contractual obligations. Farren had recently returned from a tour of the west coast of North America with his band The Deviants, who had relieved the singer of his duties.

Farren recalls that "I was crazy when I did Mona - really mentally ill. If I listen to it I can still feel it. Maybe I should have chilled out for a few months before making the album, but I was a bit depressed, and I thought I'd just do it entirely my own way for the first time". [The Deviants 3, 1999 CD issue liner notes] The subject matter is dark and music very often discordant and dissonant.

"Carnivorous Circus" is a montage of song and spoken word, featuring an interview with a Hells Angel, Steve Took recounting time he spent in borstal and recordings of political speeches. The cello on "Mona" was provided by Paul Buckmaster, having demonstrated to Farren the similarities between Bo Diddley and Béla Bartók.

Track listing

#"Mona (A Fragment)" (Ellas McDaniel) – 3:15
#"Carnivorous Circus, Part 1" (Farren) – 15:19
##"The Whole Thing Starts"
##"But Charlie, It's Still Moving"
##"Observe The Ravens"
##"Society of the Horsemen"
#"Summertime Blues" (Eddie Cochrane) – 2:41
#"Carnivorous Circus, Part 2" (Farren) – 13:01
##"Don't Talk to Me Mary"
##"You Can't Move Me"
##"In My Window Box"
##"An Epitaph Can Point the Way"
#"Mona (The Whole Trip)" (McDaniel) – 7:25

Personnel

*Mick Farren – Vocals and effects
*Steve Hammond – Guitar and vocals
*Pete Robinson – Organ and piano
*Johnny Gustavson – Bass
*Paul Buckmaster – Cello
*Twink – Drums, vocals and percussion
*Shagrat the Vagrant (Steve Peregrin Took) – Vocals and percussion
*Raul – Conga

;Technical
*Produced by Mick Farren
*Arranged by Mick Farren and Steve Hammond
*Recorded at Sound Techniques, London, December 1969
*Victor Gamm – Engineering

Release history

*March 1970, UK, Transatlantic Records, TRA212
*1984, UK, Psycho Records
*1999, UK, Castle Communications, ESMCD746, with "The Deviants 3"

References

External links

* [http://www.collectable-records.ru/groups/farrenmick/mona.htm Collectable Records] - Original cover