CIRCUS

Flairck's 3rd studio album is another successful excursion into symphonic songwriting with acoustic instruments. As the title suggests, the theme of the album is circus music. It makes the album sound a lot happier and more playful then the two preceding albums. Because of that it's somewhat less suited to my taste but the quality of the material is undeniably strong.

Flairck never sounded more like an acoustic version of Mike Oldfield then on the opening track De Overtocht. The mix of accordion, acoustic guitars and soft pastoral melodies comes right out of Hergest Ridge. But this is an album celebrating circus music and halfway in the pensive mood is broken by a fast and playful onslaught of themes with carnival and travelling fair music for inspiration. The dashing pace and virtuosic sequence of circus scenes almost doesn't let off. Only Act 3 and the final track show a quieter and more introspective style.

I have yet to get acquainted with Flairck's output from the 90's, but looking at their first decade this is their last fabulous album before they would lower their profile and ambitions on the following 80's albums. Cirkus isn't as overwhelming as their first two albums but still an excellent album. Highly recommended.