Posted: Saturday 16th August 2008

Reviewed by William Baker

Based in Stockholm Sweden but with roots worldwide, cirKus are a band not that much dissimilar from the Gorillaz in that they are a group of individuals with various music backgrounds fused together to combine experience, influences and talents right across the board. The members range from a guitarist/turntablist, an infamous record producer, a superstar from the 80's, and a teenager with a voice beyond her years. The members being Kamil (DJ/producer), Burt Ford (known for his work with Portishead and Massive Attack), Lolita Moon being one of the female vocalists, and last but certainly not least arguably the woman that gave the spotlight to female MC's from the UK during the 80's Neneh Cherry! (Buffalo Stance etc).

So that's the group...let's crack on to the album. This album is a double cd package containing Laylow, their first album, and Laylower, which is basically the first album remixed and mastered. The product is well packaged with the plus points of having an inlay card with lyrics included. The album itself is very melodic and melancholic. It is a guitar influenced chill out album for those that like their music at a relaxed pace. No up-tempo tracks whatsoever here, so don't expect to hear many if any of these tracks in clubs. However, there are many albums that do well without necessarily having a club hit single. This album is certainly not aimed at being commercial, focusing more on the music elements that trying to draw in mass appeal. cirKus has clearly stayed true to the music they believe in and rarely strayed away from the formula that is pretty much consistent throughout every track. The standout tracks on the album are: You're Such An..., Starved, Born Again, and Fools. There are a few mediocre tracks like Cutting Out A Career; some slow almost ballad pace tracks that aren't quite sure what they are and others that are both skip-able and forgettable. However those standout tracks certainly make the album more than worthy of not only a listen but a purchase! Track 5 You're Such An... is a cool almost Warren G lazy melodic type track with a female hook sung like a cross between Erykah Badu and Nate Dogg. The sample is a well used 'break from the sample' used by the Dialated peoples track Worst Comes To Worst. The vocal switches from rap to song with fluid transition. The lyrics are both funny and sharp and hard hitting in the way TLC No Scrubs shocked a few male listeners. I am sure a lot of women can identify with these lyrics (although not those I've personally encountered of course!). Track 9 Starved is an Anthony Hamilton style crooning track, with great male vocals and amazing cuts courtesy of the DJ. The production is almost RZA like in its simplicity and the vinyl crackling effect is used to perfection and suits the mood brilliantly. The chord changes for the chorus and the hook blend together in a catchy, yet extremely nonchalant manner. Track 11 Born Again is a strong guitar driven track with a real gloomy overtone but this is achieved expertly. Music is supposed to tap into emotion which this track does with ease. Fair enough you won't be jumping for joy when listening to this track but it will certainly create a mood with its well structured vocal arrangement and almost downtrodden style of production. If a track can make you feel a certain way that you weren't feeling before listening to it, you're potentially onto a winner. This track has that potential. The last choice track on this album would be track 12 Fools. As soon as the beat came on I thought 'Yes!' Another over simplified beat that you or I could probably create on generic production programmes like Fruityloops but the track has to be measured by the sum of all its parts. The choice of a simple keyboard melody along with the calming tones of a voice that sits on the track like it's a purpose built seat, backed by an almost ghostly harmonising filling the background during the hook combines to build a track that I could certainly listen to again and again if in the right mood. Track 2 Is What It Is should get a mention. Although not quite as good as the above tracks, it is certainly better than the rest. The use of a nice guitar rift drops pleasantly on the ear. Also of note, it's arguably the most up-tempo track on the album. Using a combination of rap and song quite well, it breaks out into a nice cosmic rift about 3/4 into the track and overall sounds very similar to some singles released by the Gorillaz.

In summary I would say this album would not be a bad purchase by any means. However as mentioned in a description of one of the tracks, an album is measured by the sum of its parts and not 4/5 strong parts out of a track listing containing 13 tracks. In the days pre iTunes I would have said buy the album for the tracks above as they are worth adding to the collection but for me, in today’s climate where you can purchase most tracks individually on the net, unless the album is at least 50% quality I can't justify buying it. What I will say though is that the bonus CD of the remixes tips the balance in favour of the album purchase with some great remixes and use of varying instrumentation to those found in the original versions. This addition is not something found on many albums and has certainly worked by swaying my vote. This is a left-field hip hop, soul, guitar, acoustic, DJ, sample influenced album for those that like their music well packaged, eclectic, and anti mainstream.