This Circus Life - The Flowers Know The Truth

 

I've been remiss in taking so long to review this. So long in fact that there has since been a more recent Live album. However, I wanted this beauty to be the review. This Circus Life are such an excellent five piece, that I sometimes take this for granted, hopefully this partly rectifies this.

This place has evolved so much over nearly 9 years that you get entranced in all the noise and multi directions so much that it makes you forget what the place was originally started for and it was for splendid Pop Rock and here is just that.

This Circus Life are undeniably English and master a mellow, beautifully arranged and performed melodic  Guitar led Pop. They sit somewhere between Crowded House and Squeeze, but unlike both of those, the arrangements are bigger and would stand on their own without the vocal of Charlie Mear.

Brass and strings are present, but the songs just as good when straight ahead. Staring At The Sun is built around a piano led vocal, but then breaks into an outstanding string arrangement. Very Neil Finn plus!  The Circus Is Leaving Town is wonderfully delicate, built to made you cry.

A Long Long Time is more electric and Pop Rock gold. Home is gentle Psych and Jangle which will go down well here. But it is the slower thoughtful songs that hit home most here. It is really nice to listen to something that isn't trying to riff you to death. The contemplation eases your mind and soul. Life is not all about noise.

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on CD and as a download. You can find out more about This Circus Life here.

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I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2021 : 41-50

It's been difficult to get these choices down to 100. I'm also not a believer in saying one album is better than another. Most of the time you are comparing Apples To Oranges. I'm not a List person, I just think what's the point?

However, for the last few years I have compiled annual Best Of 's  because these posts seem so popular and the aim of this Blog is to get exposure (and Sales) for the artists. There is no meaning or judgement on an album that is Number 1, Number 100 or not on the list. Anything that I review on here, mention on Social Media or play on the Radio Show is as highly recommended.

There are few rules. All albums have to have been reviewed on IDHAS. Reissues and Live Albums are not included. Previously unreleased albums are included, but Best Of's are not. For each album, I've posted a song from it and a link to the IDHAS Review where you can find further details and how to listen or buy the album. 

No 41 : Caddy - Detours And Dead Ends Vol. 1    IDHAS Review

No 42 : The Summer Holiday - B-Sides Volume 1       IDHAS Review

No 43 : Dolph Chaney - This Is Dolph Chaney     IDHAS Review

No 44 : This Circus Life - The Vast And Endless Sea         IDHAS Review

No 45 : Real Sickies - Love Is For Lovers    IDHAS Review

No 46 : Empty City Squares - The Disappearing Architect      IDHAS Review





No 47 : The Mono LPs - Shuffle / Play    IDHAS Review

No 48 :  Cheap Trick - In Another World    IDHAS Review

 

No 49 : the black watch - Here & There   IDHAS Review

   

No 50 :Portable Radio - Portable Radio        IDHAS Review

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This Circus Life - The Vast And Endless Sea

 

Welcome to IDHAS 2021, finally. Having been listening to a lot of stuff over the past week, I can tell you that the year has got off to a cracking start. I'm not sure if artists have been holding back releases so that albums are last year's news. Maybe bands have held back albums awaiting the end of Lockdown and with no end in sight have thought lets get this album released.

Whatever the reasons, the start of this year has been the strongest for a long while. So we get on to the second album from This Circus Life, following December 2019's The Better Angels Of Our Nature. The English five piece were formed by Charlie Mear in 2019. Charlie is a man who, to say the least, has led an interesting life.

It is somewhat surprising to see this second album lumped in with the Prog and Classic Rock field. I can see certain similarities to Big Big Train in quieter mode on Danny Said It's Over, but there are none of the hysterics and endless solos pf those genres present here.

This is essentially top notch Pop Rock. Indeed Falling Star may be the best Crowded House song that isn't by Crowded House. Those Neil Finn comparisons shout out heavily here. Despite the direction changes throughout the album, everything here centres around great Pop.

Where Are The Working Classes? is an absolute gem, a sort of shuffle accompanied by big Brass with an adept and apt lyric. Towards the end of the song there's even a Brass Bonzo feel or one of Roy Wood's Wizzard Brew. Yet compare that to the title track which is weeping Country Folk joy.

Radio Waves is a reminder of those great 70's Big Studio Singer Songwriter albums and The Boy I Used To Be is autobiographical splendour in a wonderfully gentle splendour. You do sense that This Circus Life could be anything that they wanted to be. Folk, Country and Americana are all within easy reach. However it is the Pop that enthrals most and here's hoping that future directions major on that. Pop Rock needs a band who can revive its motivation. 

You can listen to and buy the album here. You can find out more about the band and how Charlie Mear ended up in This This Circus Life here. 

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