Album review: EMPIRE CIRCUS – Ti

Paper Scissors Rock [Release date 01.02.19]

Empire Circus formed in 2012 and released their self-titled debut album the following year. The line-up remains that of Alan Doyle (vocals, guitar), Neil Eurelle (bass, vocals), David Walsh (guitar, keyboards) and Brian Ellis (drums).

After recording ‘High Above this Grey There’s Blue’ during a three day recording stint in Brooklyn in mid-2016, they recorded a further four songs in 2017, of which three make this album and then in the summer of last year they recorded the remaining songs that make up ‘Ti’. It is an album recorded over a number of years and locations, however it all gels together and makes for an impressive listen.

The music is varied, be it the delicious indie pop of ‘Sometimes I Cry’, complete with a neat twangy guitar solo, or the bleaker musical soundscape of ‘Salt’, the album’s lead single. Empire Circus do have quite bleak lyrics at times, however these are always wrapped in strong melodies to sweeten the bitterness. ‘We March Into The Night’ being a case in point, concerning the current state of the world, yet the choral backing and gentle guitar chords add a magical air.

‘Mercy’ is another gentle tune, with wistful backing vocals and a simply gorgeous guitar throughout. When they do songs like this and ‘High Above this Grey There’s Blue’ they really come into their own.

‘High Above this Grey There’s Blue’ is a truly uplifting and moving song, one that personally became a musical support following the death of my dad. A mellow melody that has a gloriously uplifting part midway through.

Empire Circus have produced an album of enyoable and thoughtful, melodic indie pop rock. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 25 February
Next session: Sunday 14 April

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio



David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 March 2024.


UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 5 March 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 18 March 2024

GYPSY’S KISS We’ve Come To Play
FM Out Of The Blue (Frontiers)
SHOTGUN MISTRESS Shot Down (indie)
ATTIC THEORY Violent Delight (indie)
FLOYA Yume (FiXT)
SAHAJI Tell Me All Your Feelings (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 18 March 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 LEAVES’ EYES Myths Of Fate (AFM Records)
14:00-16:00 HOLLY LERSKI Sweet Decline (indie)


To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply