Establishing the mood with a dimensional and reverberating soundscape – meditative with astral guitar – expanding into a raw, alternative rock vibe with textured drums, CIRCUS open In This Life with ethereal vocals. Needless to say we are immediately enthralled.
The opus evolves with philosophical depth and poetic prowess to take us on a sublime journey with a mild power-pop and psychedelic Brit-pop adjacency. We appreciate the sonic switch up two-thirds of the way through the track – reverting to a sense of clarity which feels symbolic in terms of the wider message of the track.
There is a cinematic allure to the track – perfect for a British coming-of-age movie or even a performance at The Bronze in the upcoming reboot of Buffy The Vampire Slayer. In essence, In This Life is about navigating the tension between nostalgia and self-doubt, whilst finding hope in the present moment. This message feels highly zeitgeist and important in the face of current world issues – and we deeply appreciate that. Philosophically, we are invited to embrace notions of joy and resilience.
The genre expansive energy is really what makes In This Life stand out – the fusion between dreamgaze, jangle pop, and alt-rock feels authentic and creative a cohesive tapestry of sound. Fans of My Bloody Valentine, Cocteau Twins, and Beach Fossils will be able to connect with the layers of shimmering reverb, waves of distortion, and 12-string acoustics, but there is no doubt that CIRCUS are manifesting a sound unto their own.
Formed in Newcastle upon Tyne in 2021, CIRCUS are driven by a shared passion for music and the theatrical energy of live performance. Their sound is designed as a hybrid of the power of ’70s–’90s rock and punk with modern textures.
Naturally, we have added In This Life to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS and TRIPPY playlists, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of CIRCUS, including Low-Mood Lover, and Forever And A Day.