I'M AWAKE, CARRY ON LIFE

Does Not Gel

Sorry, this EP from Sweden's SONIQ CIRCUS has some of the right ingredients- the circus has clowns and highwire artists and glitz and glamor- but it somehow doesn't hold together well.

It was hard to come by (how is it bands don't make this information easily available?) but here's the current lineup: Alexander Abrahamsson (vocals), Marcus Enochsson (guitar, vocals), Marco Ledri (keyboards), Markus Nilsson (bass) and Christer Ugglin (drums).

"I'm Awake, Carry On Life"

This EP consists of four tracks, cleverly mirroring the title of the EP: 1) IM; 2) Awake; 3) Carry On; and 4) Life. It appears to be the third release from SONIQ CIRCUS- the band has apparently been around since 2000; their eponymous debut was released in 2007. Then in 2011 came "Reflections in the Hourglass"; and now, nine years later the subject of this review.

IM

There's a piano intro- and I think the keyboards are done well, a highlight- then a vibrant guitar/bass/drum entry. For my ears, the drums are consistently mixed too high, the bass guitar too low, and I never got fond of the guitar tones. There is a stately progression, imaginative tempo changes, and I'd call the band 'heavy progressive' music. There's a pretty nifty synthesizer lead.

Awake

I like the uptempo, vibrant opening. Catchy choruses are a strength in this EP and certainly here. It's pretty intense. Vocals are just barely ok, rarely making much impression, although there are good harmonies at times. Some soaring guitar leads are nice.

Carry On

The synthesizer opens the track, leading to jaggedy guitar riffs and again some sizzling synthesizer leads. Variable tempos keep the interest, but again, the pieces don't always hang together for me. I like the grand piano, which subsides, and a dreamy, lazy vibe begins, with soaring lead guitar overhead. The hard-driving piano changes the feel, and leads to some treated, rougher vocals- perhaps the most compelling vocal work on the EP.

Life

Drums put down a catchy rhythm, then spritely bass/guitar enter. There's a wistful, offbeat verse with the so-so vocals. This leads to a lovely, stately progression, in which the harmonies and vocal arrangements are nice. Jangly, psychedelic screeching, wailing lead guitar begins to enter, and forces the other instruments into submission, and closes the EP with a yowl.

Highs- drums, keyboards, some of the progressions. Lows- didn't gel, didn't feel well composed, mix seemed iffy.

My rating, 2.5 stars. I think this circus has better days ahead if they choose to do so.

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