FLYING CIRCUS „Flying Circus”

Fastball Music & Bob-Media Distribution, 2021

Music: Progressive Rock / Hard Rock
Website:
https://www.facebook.com/FLYING-CIRCUS-117944154951115/
https://fastball-music.bandcamp.com/album/flying-circus
Duration: 80:00 (5 tracks)
Country: Germany

FLYING CIRCUS after 30 years of its activity presents a nostalgic journey through the previous 7 releases, creating something like “the best of”. However, the tracks were re-recorded with the current line-up, some ones also got a new mix, and even slightly changed arrangements…

So here I am dealing with a dry Progressive Rock with a Hard Rock note, which undoubtedly brings to mind associations with LED ZEPPELIN, MARILLION, RUSH, YES or even with PINK FLOYD or THE MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA. Although the high-set singing makes the whole that it comes closer to the YES and LED ZEPPELIN areas…

The arrangements are of course multi-themed, very guitar-like, showing various motifs and sounds (from clean guitars to distorted sounds) and solo emanations (mostly virtuoso), which are supplemented by colorful keyboard passages and violin melodies. Sometimes there are skirmishes of solo instruments (like a competition), the guitars with the keyboards or the guitars with the violins. In addition, there are orchestral motifs (created from the sounds of symphonic instruments), bringing classicism, pathos and solemnity to the music, as well as somewhat like folk melodies, for example straight from the Far East. The wholeness is kept in check of the rhythm section, also very richly arranged, variable, emphasized in places by some special themes and sounds. Fans of bass licks will also find something for themselves.

Despite all this virtuosity and multi-dimensionality, the music is full of vocal-instrumental melodies and emotionality. The dominant mood is nostalgia and ballad-romantic melancholy, but there is also darkness, or appropriately dosed impetuosity and stronger kicks. Sometimes a pinch of psychedelic looms somewhere…

Despite the fact that the songs come from different periods, the listening to the album is very compatible, even if the songs differ radically in terms of intensity or climate.
I think it is a perfect gift for FLYING CIRCUS fans. Although those unfamiliar with the band, fans of Progressive Rock will also not be disappointed.

Tracklist:
1. The World Is Mine
2. Dystopia
3. Fire (I Wanna Go)
4. Seasons
5. Bedevere’s Wake
6. Cut It Deep
7. Derry
8. Follow The Empress
9. Carpe Noctem
10. Living A Lie
11. The Hopes We Had (In 1968
12. Voices In The Rain
13. Pride Of Creation
14. The Edge Of The World
15. The Jewel City

Line-up:
Rüdiger Blömer – keyboards & violin & programming
Michael Dorp – vocals
Michael Rick – guitars & vocals
Ande Roderigo – drums & vocals
Roger Weitz – bass & vocals

Ocena: 9.0/10