Michigan-based duo Powers of the Monk (David S. Monk and CasSondra “Pontiac” Powers) confront difficult realities with mesmerising, boundary-pushing and quirky soundscapes. Their recently released single ‘Bread & Circuses’ takes an experimental folk-rock sound beyond its usual territory into something more surreal and outlandish. This sonic avant-gardism slowly unravels a hallucinatory narrative from the perspective of a schizophrenic patient who dreams of breaking free from hospitalisation and visiting a circus. Well, one with a dark twist where the lions attack the clowns. It might be unsettling, but this imaginative piece of warped theatre does provide an unflinching insight into the pitfalls of poor mental health.
This bridge between chaos and art is not an easy one to manage, yet you follow the purposefully laid trail of sonic breadcrumbs left by Monk and Powers. Opening with shimmering acoustic chords and hypnotic layered vocals, the gentle introduction lulls the listener into a false sense of calm before eerie rhythms and a haunting violin fractures that initial peace.
The song begins with shimmering acoustic chords and hypnotic layered vocals, lulling the listener into an eerie calm before deep pulses and spectral violin lines ruptures the soundscape. Monk’s vocals echo with an untamed urgency, while guest drummer John O’Reilly Jr. grounds the track with steady percussion. This folky art-rock arrangement is further rooted in the surrealist storytelling with lion roars, ambient distortions and ghostly synths, further blurring the line between lived experience and symbolic spectacle.
Beyond the experience of one individual, ‘Bread & Circuses’ really is a metaphor for societal decline, cultural disintegration and fractured identities. As the track draws to a close, this fever dream dissolves away, leaving us wondering what the hell just happened… but with a desire to discover more from Powers of the Monk.
You can also listen to ‘Bread & Circuses’ in our Outsiders Club playlist.
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