Walter Sickert & The Army Of Broken Toys - Casualty Menagerie (Independent) Walter Sickert was an artist working in Victorian London, and was one of many suspected to be Jack the Ripper (something to do with an ‘irregular’ todger and some fruity pics). Not to be confused with this Walter Sickert, who with his band, The Army Of Broken Toys, is responsible for this 6 track EP. The fact that much of the material on Casualty Menagerie appears to tap directly into the dark dangerous streets of an urban Victorian metropolis is probably no coincidence, and does make for an atmospheric ride to the partially lit underworld of a century past. Musically, they employ carnival loops and Eastern European gypsy motifs to their old world (not old time) Americana and litter the recordings with ear-catching couplets and effects. I’d like to hear a complete album. www.armyoftoys.com Rob F. Next