{"title":"Orbiting Human Circus","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#222222;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrbiting Human Circus \u003c\/strong\u003eis the continuing evolution of the imagination of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/julian-koster\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJulian Koster\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;\"\u003e (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/neutral-milk-hotel\"\u003eNeutral Milk Hotel\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/the-music-tapes\"\u003eThe Music Tapes\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003cspan style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;\"\u003e Elephant 6), whose music and storytelling under this moniker have encompassed immersive theater and a narrative fiction podcast released in partnership with Night Vale Presents and WNYC—with a new, epic musical fiction podcast coming soon—as well as more traditional EPs and singles. \u003ci\u003eQuartet Plus Two\u003c\/i\u003e is the group’s debut album. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"orbiting-human-circus-the-lost-angel","title":"Orbiting Human Circus - \"The Lost Angel\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eJulian Koster: singing, singing saw encouragement, organs, piano, bass, percussive saw, rhythm and drums\u003cbr\u003eRobbie Cucchiaro: trumpet and euphonium\u003cbr\u003eThomas Hughes: string arrangement, orchestra chimes\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFeaturing:\u003cbr\u003eThe Orbiting Human Circus Orchestral\u003cbr\u003eNorth the singing saw\u003cbr\u003eRomika the singing saw\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e+++\u003cbr\u003eJulian Koster on the inspiration for this song:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:rgb(34,34,34);\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eWhen my grandpa was alive, he used to say to me over and over: Why don’t you just write a nice love song? As I grew up, I found out that it was possible for a love song to be a song simply of love. He himself meant songs like “Cheek to Cheek” and “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.” I think these songs are not about one specific person loving another, but all people who have ever loved and all the people they loved, and all of us who have ever loved everything, and the everything that we love. When a song like that somehow pops out of you, it’s impossible to feel anything but goofy.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:rgb(34,34,34);\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eGrandpa, I hope you didn’t wait too long.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"merge records","offers":[{"title":"Download","offer_id":52739331391799,"sku":"MRG838dig1","price":1.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0966\/3935\/3143\/files\/7a2e0d6e9be123b1c5399f098606beb4bb77521f_6103376932f72ed1555632779db71820167416cf_medium_jpg.jpg?v=1785382465"},{"product_id":"orbiting-human-circus-quartet-plus-two","title":"Orbiting Human Circus - Quartet Plus Two","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrbiting Human Circus \u003c\/strong\u003eis the continuing evolution of the imagination of \u003cstrong\u003eJulian Koster\u003c\/strong\u003e (The Music Tapes, Elephant 6), whose music and storytelling under this moniker have encompassed immersive theater and podcasts as well as more traditional EPs and singles. \u003ci\u003eQuartet Plus Two \u003c\/i\u003eis the group’s debut album. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe origins of \u003ci\u003eQuartet Plus Two \u003c\/i\u003eare as magical and seemingly unlikely as everything else in Koster’s career. While walking through New York’s Central Park, he stumbled upon standup bass player Gauvain Gamon and drummer Kolja Gjoni playing Gershwin and Mingus, and, with the addition of pianist Benji Miller, a musical partnership was born. Koster’s longtime collaborators Robbie Cucchiaro (horns) and Thomas Hughes (orchestral arranging and chimes) of The Music Tapes also contribute to the record.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe music they make together is at once familiar and unrecognizable; while exploring new musical paths ever forward, there is something as comforting as the smell of autumn leaves or snow. Alongside those composed by Koster, Orbiting Human Circus interpret compositions by Irving Berlin, Duke Jordan, George and Ira Gershwin, and others. The use of the term “composition” is intentional and speaks to Koster’s relationship with the music of \u003ci\u003eQuartet Plus Two \u003c\/i\u003ein far more evocative terms than “cover” or even “standard.” Much like passionate young pianists will sit down to play Brahms, or children can still be found the world over singing “London Bridge,” or the traditional “Koliada” featured on this album is still sung at holiday time, this music is vital, eternal, and right now—and through the medium of the hearts and souls of Koster and Orbiting Human Circus, the spark that animates these songs has never glowed more warmly.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"merge records","offers":[{"title":"Peak Vinyl (Natural \u0026 Pink Swirl)","offer_id":52739332768055,"sku":"MRG838lp-C1","price":24.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":52739332833591,"sku":"MRG838CD","price":12.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Download","offer_id":52739332866359,"sku":"MRG838digital","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0966\/3935\/3143\/files\/32d5220e10ae222cab481e94532a9310319e5797_80f7430f972b7dfa2007d3d288cf8da0eaa427a7_medium_jpg.jpg?v=1789600562"}],"url":"https:\/\/mergerecords.com\/collections\/orbiting-human-circus.oembed","provider":"Merge Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}