Sinkadus - Cirkus


Year of Release: 1999
Label: Cyclops
Catalog Number: CYCL 072
Format: CD
Total Time: 46:48:00

As an answer for the artistic "death" of Änglägard we were treated, rather unexpectedly, to the outstanding debut Aurum Nostrum by their friends from Sinkadus. Unfortunately we had to do without any new material for a long time and then suddenly we received a live album recorded during Sinkadus' performance at the now legendary Progfest in 1997, with once again all of the Aurum Nostrum' material. As if this wasn't enough, those of you who bought the album as soon as it was released also got an extra disc as a bonus, this time including the Aurum Nostrum demo tapes produced by Björn Johansson (right, the guy who recorded Bilbo together with his friend Pär Lindh). So if you were a keen Sinkadus fan you had the same material three times in a row. So of course everyone was relieved when we finally received a new album, filled with brand-new studio compositions.

As usual we can find five "long" tracks on Cirkus, songs that are the perfect synergy between progressive rock and folk. The dark side of King Crimson or Anekdoten is more emphasized by means of some aggressive guitar playing and repetitive structures. As with Anekdoten, a cello is at play, but here the instrument is not used to add some atonal strength to the music. The calm passages are extra underlined by the divine flute playing of Linda Agren (could it be that the song "Agren" on the band's first album is about her?) whilst the folky elements get more play by means of Linda's voice and the work of bass player Rickard Bistrüm. The organ in the intro of "Jag, Änglamarks Bane" (which you could already hear on the Live at Progfest '97 as well) reminds me a lot of Fruitcake, whilst the synth-sprints contain the best of Rick Wakeman. Calling Sinkadus "typical Swedish prog" is a bit dangerous, as a lot of people might then think of a Flower Kings clone, whereas Sinkadus has very little in common with Roine Stolt. I'd rather keep it as "the call-note from the darkest part of the fjörds," but it surely is one hell of a band, and together with White Willow and Valinor's Tree they continue to mix prog and Skandinavian folk to unseen hights!

Latest news [as of Feb 2000]: singer, flutist Linda Agren has decided to leave the band, but Sinkadus won't retire as they are already looking for a replacement. Thanks Linda and good luck Sinkadus!


Tracklisting:
Jag, ?nglamarks Bane (13:45) / Positivhalaren (7:19) / Kakafonia (6:26) / Valkyria (10:03) / Ulv I Farakl?der (9:55)

Musicians:
Linda Agren - flute, vocals
Lena Pettersson - cello
Mats Segerdahl - drums
Rickard Bistr?m - bass, vocals
Robert Sj?back - guitar
Fredrik Karlsson - keyboards

Discography:
Aurum Nostrum (1997) Live At Progfest '97* (+ bonus disc: Aurum Nostrum - The Demo Tapes) (1997)
Cirkus (1999)

*On the Progfest '97 compilation 2CD set (Outer Music OM110CD) you can also find Sinkadus live with the track

Genre:

Origin SE

Added: February 1st 2000
Reviewer: John "Bobo" Bollenberg

Artist website: home.swipnet.se/~w-18973/sinkadus/
Hits: 2225
Language: english

  

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