TANGERINE CIRCUS

As I've said several times, it is a delight when I discover bands from my own country whose talent has led them to create wonderful music that deserves to be spread around the world. One of those bands is Tangerine Circus, a four-member project from Mexico City created back in 2009 which makes progressive rock with a clear metal tendency. They actually composed their first songs that year (2009), songs that would be released 6 years later when their debut record saw the light as an official release. Its name is Urania and features 6 amazing songs including two long epics ranging from 12 to 19 minutes.

The album starts with "Into Her Traveling Mind", the shortest track of the album but a wonderful introduction to their music. It features bombastic keyboards with some celestial-like choirs, greatly contrasted by the power of guitar, bass and drums. Since this very first track one can easily notice they are trained and talented musicians whose skills in composition and performance don't ask anything to anyone. This is an instrumental track for the likes of people who like progressive metal with superb technique, but also with some passages full of emotions.

"Cycle of Madness" is the first track that features vocals, and though they don't really have a true singer, they wanted to share that responsibility together, so the four members sing in different passages of the album. The lyrics are in English, a wise decision because it allows them to be better appreciated worldwide. Fast moments full of energy and great skills are shown all over the minutes, so be ready because this is just the beginning.

"Rushing Dreams" has again that fast and powerful sound that take elements from different kind of metal eras and from bands that have inspired Tangerine Circus. Two of those bands are Rush and Dream Theater, which is why the title is Rushing Dreams, it is like a kind of rendition to those big bands whose influence can be appreciated in different moments of this song of course (you will remember Tom Sawyer), but also of the whole record. "Neverending Love" has a much softer feel, a ballad-like start with calm voice and delicate strings. After a minute and a half it makes a change, drums enter little by little and then the song develops that romantic sound that evidently contrasts with the previous compositions. A very good track whose last two minutes are very emotional with a cool guitar riff included.

Now the big one. "The Wings" is the longest composition here reaching the 19-minute mark. An ambitious song that put Tangerine Circus in the major league of prog metal; a song that takes a lot of elements from their influences and likes. It starts with acoustic guitar ala Española, after a minute keyboards, drums and bass create a pretty cool structure that develops a catchy and interesting sound that reminds me a bit of Steven Wilson and Opeth, and that progresses all the time, increasing the energy of the guitar and drums, but contrasted with a sooth piano sound. I love how the song flows, so no matter its different passages it is always great and enjoyable. At minute six everything vanishes but bass, it brings some nice notes just before a bombastic explosion of fury begins, keyboards become crazy and take over the world, greatly accompanied by drums, bass and guitar, now all together in a vertiginous journey. But you know, after the storm it comes the calm, and this happens here so we can enjoy a passage full of softness and tranquility.

A new passage begins after 12 minutes, keyboards plays repetitive but hypnotic notes and then the music explodes again, having a sense of joy on it which is transmitted to the listener, so the only thing one can do is enjoying it. This is actually something I'd like to point out, the two times I've witnessed Tangerine Circus on stage, it has been clear to me that these four guys love and enjoy what they do, so it is common to look at their faces and see them smiling, feeling the music, and that, believe me, makes the experience even better. The next episode brings some dark voices made by keyboards and a wonderful bass-keyboard chat for some seconds. The music and the experiences seem to be endless, and that is great because when a song is great, it does not matter if 5, 10 or 15 minutes have passed, one does not notice the length but the quality, and this song, is a monster, a wonder, believe me.

The album finishes with another gem entitled "A Passage Through My Past Life", a song that I would say sums up what Tangerine Circus' music is about, in fact, this was the first song I listened from them, a piece that made me feel curious and interested about them and made me explore more of their tunes. Actually I think this is a song the band themselves like a lot, so go figure. The keyboards background is always excellent, prominent and adequate; the drums constant, heavy or soft always great; bass lines are never plain so it is easy to notice those ever-changing lines and notes, and of course the guitar is also amazing while making the rhythm and while giving those great riffs. This song was a perfect choice to finish this wonderful album.

So in conclusion, Tangerine Circus is a band that you should not miss, mainly if you are a prog metal fan, but I invite any prog fan to discover them and I assure you will have a positive experience.

It kicks off with "The Chronicles Overture", a short piece with a classical music feeling created by keyboards that works as the titles says, as an overture. It leads to "Neohuman" in which the other instruments join and together begin to create an adventurous journey that lies into a conceptual album. Of course the tendency of the music goes to the metal side of prog, but there are some moments in which the music is simply prog, not that metal. As I mentioned while reviewing their first album, Tangerine Circus does not have a singer, because the four members sing which is something I like a lot from them.

"Through Heaven" starts with a delicate piano, then drums, voice and strings join in order to prepare a new structure that has a catchy chorus that I love even singing. This is a song I like a lot, it is not that fast or bombastic, it is a kind of charming prog metal that anyone who does not love metal would like, I promise. Both the instrumental and the passages with voice are great, I must say this is one of my favorite Tangerine Circus tunes. "Lifestream" has a folky feeling created by keyboards, acoustic guitar and percussion, then it changes and begins a symphonic prog metal song that I like as well, when once again the musicianship floats and let us know that they are capable of creating uber-complex music and some catchier tunes, but in the end the result is always great, at least to my ears. This song leads to "A Higher State of Mind" whose drumming is outstanding, very fast, powerful and precise. They show off their skills and technique, sharing once again that they have the talent to eat the world and be better known. I love the changes of rhythm because they also bring new atmospheres, nuances and textures that make the music very visual, so one can easily imagine things and create histories on our mind. Great song!

"The Conspiracy" is their longest composition so far, a 20-minute epic that oh my god, is a feast of prog metal at its best. This first four minutes are instrumental serving up the introduction to this Conspiracy; later vocals appear complemented by nice piano notes, great drums and bass, it lasts some for a couple of minutes and then the music changes, in fact they give us a vast amount of changes within this song, changes that are well-thought and never harm the music and its continuity. Keyboards are wonderful all the way, as background and as leader creating some extraordinary solos in the symphonic metal vein (you can notice them once again at minute 10). Another contrast comes at minute 12 when piano stands alone and a soft piece appears reminding me a bit of Marillion (Hogarth era), inviting you to take a deep breath and have some rest for two minutes because later the explosion returns and an emotive symphonic prog metal passage begins now, with excellent and heartfelt guitar riffs included. And so on, some other changes to come taking even some hard rock and 80s metal elements to bring the listener a complete and fabulous journey that never ceases to surprise us.

There is something I must confess, though I like what I listen and I support the band, I believe this album is actually way too long, so it requires a nice mood and enough time to appreciate it as it deserves, otherwise, it is probably that you feel a bit tired after some 50 even 60 minutes. Maybe that long epic would have been a wonderful ending, I don't really know, but this is one of the few cons I found in the album, its long length. Well, it continues with "Spheres" is a nice track that could have belonged to the previous epic, it is much shorter and has a catchy mood that allows anyone to enjoy it in a regular basis, I mean, it is easy to dig in spite of those great riffs. "Advent of the Thinking" has a somber feeling created by strings at first, but later it is becoming smoother so one can close the eyes and feel at peace for a brief moment. However, that somber and tense feeling does not completely disappear, in spite of the rays of hope and brightness that some notes share. This short instrumental track leads to "The Great Elector", another short track that starts with acoustic guitar reminding me a bit of Opeth. Later vocals enter and the song goes easy, a nice folky ballad like piece that slows down the emotions that the big Conspiracy left.

The album finishes with "The Memory Delusion", the second epic of the album running 14 minutes, a song that might work as a kind of reprise of several previous pieces, however, this is a completely different song that made me feel satisfied since the very first time I listened to it. The metal feeling is not present in the first three minutes, then a heavier guitar appears and that feeling becomes present but not that obvious, so the song has that soft metal sound that is closer to symphonic prog in some moments. But wait, because later it changes and becomes soooo proggy and so prog metal, with faster moments and great musicianship that will easily remind you of some older acts such as Dream Theater or Symphony X. A quite long instrumental passage actually, a feast of how to do a great song is represented here. Wonderful way to finish this extraordinary album!

A very solid album by Tangerine Circus that I am sure people around the world would enjoy if they knew it. It is great yeah, but I think I keep (right now, it might change later) Urania as my favorite, maybe because of the long duration of this one. Anyway, it deserves an easy 4-star rating.

Enjoy it!