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Album number two from Star Circus, the London-based rock band led by Dave Winkler (guitars/lead vocals) and Sophie Aurelia Young (bass/vocals), and although it continues with the same mixture of rock sub-genres that made the debut album ‘Separate Sides’ such a delight, it has an harder edge in places that makes it a heavier prospect (pop on ‘The Wreckage’, crank it up and then drool with delight once the boot-stomping groove kicks in). Likewise, ‘Destiny’s Door’ lands in John Sykes-era Thin Lizzy territory, and the melodic riffage is top-notch.
With the vastly experienced Winkler providing the fretboard fireworks, ‘From The Wreckage’ is a guitar-heavy album that at times sizzles. Tom Draper (ex-Carcass, Spirit Adrift) and Ritchie Mohicano (Dobermann) are credited as guest guitarists, and Argentinian guitarist Santiago Periotti is also part of the band (with drummer Reuben O’Donoghue completing the line-up), but the vast majority of the six-string work comes from Winkler, who is very much in the guitarist-who-also-sings camp, rather than a singer-who-also-plays-guitar, in that sense, similar to Richie Sambora. And like Sambora, Winkler also has a more than decent voice.
While the full-pelt tempo of opening track ‘Over And Over’ brings a primo Van Halen-meets-Queen edge to the party (with added Hammond organ thrown in for extra sassiness), moments like ‘Chained To You’ go down a path that is more akin to British acts such as Def Leppard, Thunder, and Little Angels. The riffs on the latter are especially crunchy, and the short bursts of guitar pyrotechnics are most welcome. Vocal harmonies also play a major role in the Star Circus DNA, and ‘Chained To You’ is chock-full of delicious co-vocals/gang vocals that linger on for days on end.
At times, Star Circus fall into the same league as Cats In Space. That same Queen, Cheap Trick, ELO kind of vibe, and the bouncy ‘One Hit Wonder’ is a perfect example; so much so that it’s a shame that Jeff Lynne has announced all the guest acts for ELO’s upcoming Hyde Park gig, as Star Circus would be a great addition. ‘Two Odds Make An Even’ doubles down on that thought.
Constantly mixing it up (the six-minute epic ‘Turn The Tide’ twists and turns constantly), Star Circus like to throw some curveballs, and ‘Masquerade’ is the biggest of them all. Featuring lead vocals from Sophie Aurelia Young, it has a mysterious air to it at times. Sung at a lower register (Hazel O’Connor springs to mind), Young’s vocals are strong and form quite a wall of sound with the layered backing vocals. When they meld together, it lends quite a Sweet-Glam touch to proceedings. Just to play havoc with pigeonholers, ‘Floodlights’ immediately follows on, and Winkler adds a Brian Molko feel to the gumbo pot.
Star Circus have chameleon-like qualities that make their material suit quite a mixture of live bills. Equally at home opening for Def Leppard, or Bon Jovi now that Jon is getting back in the saddle, or appearing at a hard rock festival such as Steelhouse or Stonedead, but also melodic and hooky enough to appear with the aforementioned ELO without scaring the pensioners into breaking a hip. ‘From The Wreckage’ is a strong follow-up that would not look out of place in the racks of any self-respecting fan of rock music influenced by the 70s and 80s. Star Circus just need that all-important stroke of luck to get them in front of a large audience.
Available now via Renaissance Records.
Follow Star Circus, HERE.
Review – Dave
