Lacings of gothic rock and post-punk breathe life into Infamy
by Circus Wolves, a standout track among a line of singles that show a band that
is willing to explore many different areas of alternative rock/pop.
After opening with an expansive, Stone Roses-esque intro, deep
vocals reminiscent of Ian Curtis and Morrissey, (They are a Manchester band
after all) croon over the kind of ghostly, watery sound that nods to bands like
Warpaint and Souxie and the Banshees.
The steady, almost machine like drumming and powerful,
driving bass create a dystopian feel, compatible with driving in the rain.
Disquieted
yet daring lyrics make this a good number for many moods, whether weary, bold,
or disenchanted. Candid Lines like “The death of all pretenders” arise amid the
intermingling of sturdy rhythms and chorus laden melodies, showing a hint of edginess
that calls to mind the likes of Nick Cave.
The second half of the song soars into melodic, cathartic heights,
with a cry of “take me away” from the singer before an electrifying solo. They
almost veer off steady ground before this point, going through a chorus that
doesn’t have the same sense of immediacy as the rest of the song, but they
nevertheless make up for this in dynamics and variation.
Variation is something Circus Wolves do well. Fans of
Strokes inspired garage rock should check out their other single “The Tourist”.
I’m interested to see where they go next.
Review by Lawrence Peattie
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