Surprise Connections
Star Circus are a band that I have had the pleasure to review and also chat with. Really great people who play classic rock with plenty of pop elements whilst still kicking plenty of rear end. The band are mainly comprised of singer and guitarist Dave Winkler and bassist and lead/backing vocals Sophie Aurelia Young.
On this album they do have a couple of guests doing lead solos from bands as different as Italian rockers Dobermann and UK melodic death, grindcore legends Carcass! Bet no-one expected to see them named on a review by a band such as Star Circus, but such is the power and respect good or great musicians have for each other!
The band namecheck bands like Queen, Thin Lizzy, Cheap Trick, Def Leppard and Alice Cooper, as influences, however their influences are also wider than that as this album shows over 10 songs. This is also a proper album, in that they have written and recorded their best material of the day and put it on one album lasting roughly 45 minutes. No filler, just killer. The way it should be. Let’s have a little look at some of the songs that make up the album.
Chirpy Music, Dark Lyrics
Opener “Over And Over” opens via drums up front leading into a nicely paced 80s glam/hard rock riff. The chorus had me thinking not only of the aforementioned Cheap Trick but also The Cars and even Jellyfish. It sort of has 2 different choruses that follow on from each other and both are bloody excellent. There are some Beatles-type harmonies before they hit you with a tasty guitar solo.
“Chained To You” keeps the energy levels up. I did feel that just before the guitar solo that Dave delivered the lyrics in a sneer-like way reminding me of Alice. There are some enjoyable dual guitar harmonies at the start, ala Lizzy and the chorus is quite a chirpy singalong, which is odd as I think the lyrical content is quite dark. The relationship seems like a bad one that someone cannot escape from. They then take a little twist musically into even darker territory in “The Wreckage” which has a riff that is akin to one by say Alice In Chains whilst the song is nothing like them! That wonderful opening riff reappears during the song and each time it hits very nicely. I love the riff in this song. Heavier and darker but still with loads of melody.
Ridiculously Infectious
Bringing it back to very upbeat is first single they released from the album, the magnificent “One Hit Wonder” which is simply the best pop
song of the year (that also rocks). A track that bounces and bobs along more magically than the family in Bedknobs And Broomsticks whilst doing so at the “bottom of the beautiful briny sea” (how’s that for a reference?). This thing is one of the most infectious songs I have heard in a long time.
The extra fun part is to work out who they are singing about… it is sarky as hell… I mean I don’t know for sure but having fun guessing! Making sure the album ebbs and flows (back to the “briny sea” again) they take a turn off for the longest track on the album “Turn The Tide” which I think is a song about the environment. It is another darker sounding track, but the slide guitar here adds so much to the texture. There is also a Celtic vibe (think Big Country but not quite so Scottish) at points merged with Dire Straits and a solo that is out of the Floyd catalogue. The mid eight is to die for with the single vocal slowly becoming many in harmony. Sweet as apple pie. My notes say “wonderful, dark, thoughtful yet melodic and easy on the ear due to the vocals”. I think I got that right.
Stop Start Riffage
“Destiny’s Door” has a right “Emerald” by Lizzy sound especially with the drum patterns. It opens with the bass up front and centre which I like. This is another that is a bit heavier but still has a solid groove through it. In “Masquerade” Sophie takes on lead vocal duties. It has a more modern sound or feel than the rest, very much the kind of stuff that gets tagged as “alternative”.
The chorus on this has a great stop start riff in it that again adds something different to the mix. Try not to headbang when that comes in though, I can’t help myself that is for sure. “Floodlights” has an atmospheric opening with a great bass line coming through strongly. Probably the darkest song musically on the album, almost having a claustrophobic feeling to it before the song builds into it a powerful melody line, slowly taking the song over. Despite all this the chorus is still big and strong. I do like the mood changes on this quite a bit.
Groovy Yet Thoughtful
The last 2 songs again show off the variety of their music. Yes, there are melodies galore, choruses that are memorable but they show almost 2 sides of the same coin. First up “Last Dance” a faster more driving riff-based song which is HEAVY on the groove element. The verses are slightly grungy but the chorus is massive and so darned easy to get stuck in your head. I noted it as “AOR with a ton of attitude”. If you like your AOR to rock then this is for you.
They finish the album with a sort of ballad, big thoughtful and still with moments to join in with. The opening reminded me a little of early Soul Asylum before it turns into the sort of storytelling track that songwriters like Tom Petty would write. The harmonies on the chorus are pure Cheap Trick or Jellyfish.
They kind of mix 70, 80s and 90s hard rock, taking the best of each and weaving it through their song(s). This one I think is about perhaps 2 people who are a bit odd, or different, not only to society, but to each other but yet together they just work as a couple. I know one or two couples who are so different but I couldn’t ever imagine them apart, and I think that is what they are referring to. Interesting take on a ballad.
Coming Of Age As A Rock ‘n’ Roll Band
What a fabulous album. An album of SONGS, with melodies, vocal harmonies and memorable riffs as well. The flow is great as it weaves its way, they obviously didn’t throw them together, they positioned them (the songs) for the highs and lows emotionally of the melodies and lyrics. I like my music to rock hard and this does that whilst being incredibly melodic.
Anyone who likes the bands I have namechecked should find themselves digging this album greatly. In the press notes Dave says about this album that “it’s also a landmark in our evolution from our little project into a fully-fledged rock n’ roll animal” and I agree, they have truly arrived as a “rock ‘n’ roll animal“. Highly recommended. Released June 13!
Purchase Via Amazon Music HERE
Official Website // Official Facebook
Check out my other articles and reviews here. Tom.
