Circus of Love is the new release from Benjamin Dunn and Friends, a collaborative effort with Dunn, His wife Stephanie and others that takes the typical modern worship melody and turns it on its ear. Fans of Gungor will be especially pleased with the results. The end result is a positive, upbeat affair, one that comes naturally with Dunn's ministry, Joy Revolution, that focuses on the joy of God's presence in our lives. --CCM, April 1, 2011Every year or two, a band or artist comes through with a fresh wind into the worship spectrum to change things up and relieve millions who become bored with the tired clichés and formulaic ruts of most modern worship choruses. Perhaps that s a harsh statement for some, but with a theology that tells us we re created in the image of a Creator, we re quite good at creating a few songs and then repeating them ad nauseum until there s no life left. With that in mind, it s refreshing when we first hear a Hillsong United come through the worship spectrum to bring their excellent musicianship and epic scope to the table. It s the same feeling I had a decade or so ago when I first discovered the intimate acoustics of Enter the Worship Circle. Last year I encountered Gungor s Beautiful Things and it lifted my heart like no other recent release, and it s with this company that Benjamin Dunn & Friends makes their debut. Circus of Love is the latest release from the independent Dunn who invites his friends to join him on one of the most aptly titled albums in some time. The project is filled with worshipful melodies that focus on the fun and joy and love and grace of the kingdom of God an extension of Dunn s ministry with his wife called Joy Revolution. The Illinois natives cultivate an incredibly positive vibe not the kind defined by K-Love or some other radio station touting a tagline like positive for the whole family but an actual overflow of joy that comes from the presence of God. For an independent project, Dunn s production values are through the roof, and one only need to watch the video for Melody of Salvation to understand these guys have a clear and beautiful vision for what they want to do. The song itself has a Leeland-esque feel to it and the rising woah-oh chorus exudes the joy they sing about.  Heart Strings rides a percussive movement reminiscent of Mute Math before becoming another anthemic chorus in the catalog. Smile on Me has a stronger modern rock flavor alongside harmonies that would make Sufjan proud. The inventive 126 sounds like a cut from an older Paper Route relelase, while Leap Like A Deer feels like a Freelance Whales outtake with its instrumentation- xylophone, accordion and arrangement. The swirling synth of Sweetest Thing closes an album on the perfect note, maintaining a strong musical imagination throughout and making sure the ending is as memorable as the beginning. An album like this is a rarity in any case, but to see an independent band crafting what Dunn & Friends have here is something else entirely. What you re witnessing or rather, hearing is the next great worship band. --Soul Audio, February 2, 2011Every so often, I m late to the party when I hear a record that surprises me. It sometimes comes from an artist that I have no preconceived notions or knowledge thereof, and would fall under the category of purchasing, on a whim. And every so often, said whimsical purchasing record also surprises me, especially when it comes from the Christian music realm. In 2007, it was Phil Wickham s Cannons. In 2008, it was Above the Golden State s self-titled debut record. 2009 s spotty for me, so I ll skip to last year Gungor s Beautiful Things album. And coming at the tail end of last year, yet discovered (apologies for the late notice), only this year, is Benjamin Dunn & Friends. The title of the record is Circus Of Love and it s quite a treat, dripping wet in glockenspiel, accordions, and banjo. Led by California native, Benjamin Dunn (quite obvious I know, but let s not forget namesakes of bands that aren t real people. i.e. Franz Ferdinand, Miike Snow, etc.), and his four other musical cohorts have a record that would categorically appeal to the fans of Future of Forestry, Sufjan Stevens Seven Swans offering, and a little Waterdeep. From the moment the Introduction song is played, the musical treats of glockenspiel, background ooohs and aaahs, quick, yet subtle drumming, and melodic banjo and electric guitars give us an aptly named introduction. Then Hearts Strings begins. If you re reading this and are not accompanied by the record itself, I want you to try and picture it. You lift the poor out of the dust / and you lifted my heart / And out of the grave came a song / Out of the grave I came lead beautifully into the chorus of this song with the previous musical justice of glockenspiel, banjo, steady drumming, and less aaahs and more ooohs this time. While Melody of Salvation is the lead single of this album, even generating a music video, You re Everywhere is the song I think that really stands on its own and sits higher above the rest, and not just because it mentions whales, seahorses, and an octopus. Like the title proclaims, the song speaks of our Maker s omnipresence and bears an overwhelming hope and happiness handclaps, girl/guy harmonies, and sea animals, notwithstanding. The closest another song on the record comes to rivaling this song s greatness would be Smile On Me, with it s edgier guitar riff and off-beat drumming. The breakdown around the 2-minute mark, with the banjo taking the lead, just about ruins me. And speaking of being ruined, don t get me started on the choir-like soaring vocals towards the end of the song. This is Benjamin Dunn s first record, but he also has authored a book entitled, The Happy Gospel. He is currently involved in working with leper colonies and the poor, by taking part in the World Garbage Dump Tour. I know what you re thinking, because I thought it too. This guy wrote a book, has a record out, and he hangs out with lepers and the poor could he be changing the Christian music genre not just in music, but also in other avenues in a positive way? Perhaps, but that s my bag for me to dissect. What we have here is a young man going back to the basics of worship songs that inspire hope and rest in the Lord. That should be enough for the fellow believer, or anyone, really, to sit down, press down on the handle of the French press coffee maker, take in the warmth and beauty of this life and enjoy life s blessings. --Circle Six Magazine, April 7, 2011