Irlam's best looking band came together through chance encounter. Actually, that's a complete lie. They came together when one very bored bassist named Peter placed an ad in Manchester's Affleck's Palace for musicans into the Chameleons, Psychedelic Furs, Slowdive, House of Love and British Sea Power. In six months, he got two responses. Thankfully, one was a guitar whiz called Ste and together they would write songs that would define a generation. Sorry, that's complete fiction as well. In truth, they messed around for a while and did nothing. They tried other groups and wandered the globe before realising that, actually, they quite liked the idea of being in a group together again. Only they would need reinforcements. Luckily, Ste knew Chris, as he lived ten seconds down the road. Then, in October 2006, a man named Dirk answered the call and turned up to play the drums. However, the band life did not agree with his ears and he staggered to one side. Sometime amongst all this, James turned up to play the synth. We've no idea the why or how, he just turned up. A long summer saw the band locked away trying to master the recording process and look for the elusive new drummer. Thankfully, August 2007 saw a young whippersnapper under the handle of Jon take the place behind the skins, thanks to his being impressed with the band's footwear and agreeable tattoos. So what now for our five heroes? Glory or packing boxes for the rest of their lives? Perhaps we'll find out later. Today tomorrow. Maybe in time. We may never know.
Peter.I met a Girl Music Video
Review By FDA.----
Circus Animals describe themselves, along with “Experimental†and “Shoegazingâ€- don’t be fooled!
That early ‘90’s, brief movement, doesn’t do CA justice- in fact, I wonder why they even put it on their myspace. Shoegazing was an effects heavy, 80bp, often dirgy style of music that appealed to the fey, marijuana smoking students of Oxford and Cambridge. Everybody else hated it.
CA, therefore, are NOT shoegazey. But they do use effects- who doesn’t? And they do tend to stray toward the lower bpm…but to compare them to Ride, Chapterhouse, et al, would be doing them a dis-service.
So let’s talk influences, shall we? Despite what they say on their ‘Space, the influences I pick up are more varied…Some Banshees, some Joy Division, and most particularly, The Psychadelic Furs, and considering they are one of my favourite bands, that is a compliment.
“Sounds Of..†could be a Furs track, no doubt- it has echoes of “Get A Roomâ€, which if you haven’t heard it- WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING ALL YOUR LIFE? – but while the Furs tell a fairly standard (but beautiful) boy meets girl story. CA go darker. Perhaps the addition of some Hammond organ on this (in my opinion) might improve it, but not much- it’s lovely.
Summer Ends has the Joy Div influence I just mentioned- maybe it’s the flanger, maybe it’s the sheer wash of it, but there are subtle distractions hidden within; Beatles harmonies? A joyous (not Joy Division) optimism, plus, if you turn your speakers up, the feeling that you may just be sinking in chocolate. Now THAT’s good.
But then, then….there’s CA’s meisterwerk (every band has one) Means of Escape. Do yourself a favour – or two – pump up your speakers, get drunk, fall in love, take drugs – whatever turns you on – and put “Escape†on. I guarantee you will fall in love all over again. With whatever it is you fell in love with in the first place. Pretentious, moi? But the fact is, Means Of Escape is one of those songs and sounds that many bands strive for and never achieve. CA make it sound effortless.
The CA’s WILL make it big. If they don’t, well, let’s all be grateful that they were our best-kept secret.
Richie Jay.
