Detailed Reviews [ Flying Circus - 2020 - "1968"]

Prolusion. German band FLYING CIRCUS have been an ongoing feature in the German music since 1990, and from 1998 and onward they have released half a dozen studio albums. "1968" is the name of their most recent studio album, which was released by German label Fastball Music in the spring of 2020.

Analysis. While Flying Circus may not be among the better known German progressive rock bands, the two albums I have explored by them so far indicate to me that they deserve to be much better known. Their approach to progressive rock is a fairly diverse one, but with harder edged majestic arrangements as one of key recurring features. For that reason the band is, for better or worse I guess, categorized as hard prog or heavy prog in many places. They do have a few more dimensions to their game though, at least on this most recent studio album of theirs. The album itself is what I'd describe as a thematic production, with events taking place around the world in 1968 being the theme explored here. I'd say that the theme in question doesn't involve the music all that much however, hence those looking for a band to transport them back in time to the 1960's through the music itself probably should look elsewhere. History buffs, on the other hand, should find the scope of the theme explored a fascinating one. In terms of the music itself, this is a band that doesn't really want to stand still for any elongated period of time on this occasion. The compositions ebb and flow, twist and turn and are generally always moving somewhere. With frequent revisits and returns, repeating motifs, arrangements and sections as per standard procedure, but there's a drive throughout the album to expand and explore. Hard rock with subtly Eastern tinged instrument details and majestic hard rock with Deep Purple and Uriah Heep tendencies is a part of the totality here, as is a nifty little folk-based filler that explored out from the foundation of what I think is an Irish jig, Atmospheric laden passages with something of a Floydian vibe are present, but also funky, groovy and playful escapades with a distinct 1970's flavor to them - with psychedelic elements as well as wah wah effects and some tasteful electric piano and vintage synths. A few parts have more of a jazzrock flavor to them, even if perhaps more energetic in execution than most associate with that style of music, but also calmer passages that by plan or accident gave me some clear associations towards The Beatles and their evergreen hit Eleanor Rigby. In addition there are a couple of instances where Flying Circus ops to explore more blues-laden landscapes, and I also took note of bassist Weitz having a few bass lines that, again by plan or accident, gave me associations to good, old Eloy Not quite at the level of variety that invites me to throw in the obligatory kitchen sink reference, but not all that far away from this being a natural thing to do for me as a writer either. The important bit is that this is all really well done. The songs are entertaining, occasionally really mesmerizing, and as a bonus feature these guys do know their way around a good chorus section too.

Conclusion. Flying Circus strikes me as a band that should appeal to the greater majority of progressive rock fans. The songs are well made, challenging to some degree without overplaying that aspect of a composition, but also catchy and infectious without hitting any overused cliches. I guess those who will get the band easiest would be people with a fairly broad interest in 70's progressive rock, and then those among them that do not mind encountering the occasional more challenging musical fare as well as harder and more intense excursions in this specific context.

Progmessor: April 2021
The Rating Room