Album Review: FLYING CIRCUS – Ones And Zeros

Self-released – 2013

OK, let’s get all the Monty Python out of the way shall we? And breathe…

Flying Circus are a German neo-prog outfit with four albums behind them who cite comparisons with Rush and Led Zeppelin, and ‘Ones And Zeros’ is an EP appetizer for their forthcoming fifth album.

Amazing isn’t it? Six tracks here clocking in at over 28 minutes – time was when that would be considered enough effort to put an album out…

And a rather fine effort it is. If this is merely the amuse-bouche as it were, the main course should be a progressive rock feast of gargantuan proportions.

As mentioned, six tracks in total and there’s plenty to get any prog fan’s palate whetted.

From the opening keyboard swell and stabbing riffs of ‘Hero In Disguise’ to the closing drum salvoes and terminal Chinese gong of ‘Back To The City’ the band’s take on the neo-prog genre is excellent.

There are time signature changes a-plenty, occasional heavy riffing interspersed with delicate, pastoral acoustic work of the highest order, some great keys and a vocalist who comes across as the bastard love-child of ‘Percy’ Plant and Geddy Lee.

Highlights would have to be a great cover of the Stones’ ‘Paint It Black’ and the rather Radioheadesque acoustic riff of ‘Fire (I Wanna Go)’ which clearly demonstrate a band at one with both themselves and their music.

If there is a downside it has to be with the lyrics – which, on occasion, can be a little twee and awkward. This often happens when bands are writing in a second language but it never spoils the enjoyment of what is a first-rate effort.

No need for that giant foot to come down here then.

****

Review by Alan Jones

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