FEATURED ALBUM: Sinkadus - Cirkus

[Poisoned Youth]

Remember these guys? While someone could say "actually, no", it's challenging not to group these guys in the "Anglagard clone" camp. That said, I personally enjoy both records - even though the vocals can be challenging. Fans?



Review from ProgArchives
[qoute]This is the second release from SINKADUS, and while I thought their debut was amazing, I think this one is even better. I love the way this band sounds with the melancholic flute and mellotron in contrast to the outbursts of organ and deep prominant bass. That's really over simplifying it, all I know is that the vintage keys along with the bass and flute are incredible throughout. This album is part of my legendary Swedish trilogy from the nineties, along with "Hybris" and "Vemod".

"Jag, Anglamarks Bane" opens with ominous flute melodies until there is an explosion of sound after a minute. Powerful organ and mellotron as drums pound slowly. It changes to an ANGLAGARD-like soundscape of intricate sounds before 3 minutes.The angular guitar and chunky bass are outstanding ! It brightens a minute later.This is incredible ! Check out the bass and organ as the angular guitar continues. You can hear someone laugh right out of the blue (or was that me). This has to be heard to be believed. Suddenly gale force mellotron winds sweeps across the soundscape as huge bass lines pierce through the storm. It settles beautifully 6 1/2 minutes in with flute and gentle guitar followed by vocals. The calm is ended abruptly 8 1/2 minutes in dramatic fashion. The bass is killer.The mellotron is back a minute later. Themes are repeated. Another calm 11 minutes in with vocals. I really like the sound 12 1/2 minutes in. It's building to a big finish. What a song ! "Positivhalaren" opens powerfully with organ, drums and mellotron. It settles quickly then builds as flute, mellotron and snarly bass lines come in. Another calm 2 1/2 minutes in with flute. It's building again. Great sound 4 minutes in with mellotron. The mellotron is glorious 5 1/2 minutes in. I can't get over how huge sounding the bass is throughout this album. The final minute is simply heaven on earth. No words.

"Kakafonia" is sad with vocals to open. A fuller sound 1 1/2 minutes in. Nice. Some good organ follows. Solemn flute and a calm 3 minutes in, but it kicks back in quickly. Mellotron waves 3 1/2 minutes in as the tempo keeps shifting.The mellotron is outstanding in this song. Great sound a minute later, but they don't stay in one place long. "Valkyria" is a 10 minute instrumental. It opens with gentle flute and guitar. After 1 1/2 minutes the tempo picks up as chunky bass and a full sound arrives. Mellotron floods the scene as a calm arrives with gentle guitar. Flute is back. It kicks back in before 4 minutes. More fat bass outbursts as mellotron comes in majestically. Another calm with piano after 5 minutes. It's building as ground shaking bass lines come in. Check it out after 6 minutes ! The calm sections and outbursts of sound continue to be contrasted until i am overwelmed by the wall of mellotron 9 minutes in that continues until the song ends. Gulp. "Ulv I Faraklader" opens with guitar as instruments are added including vocals until it kicks into full gear 2 minutes in. Flute and mellotron after 2 1/2 minutes as bass throbs. Gorgeous sound follows with organ. It settles right down with flute.Cello comes in around 4 minutes.Check out the mellotron a minute later that turns into a storm. This is too much ! Vocals are back 7 minutes in and it's building, right to the end of the song ! - Mellotron Storm[/quote]



Well, I hate to bait and switch you, but I couldn't find any music from Cirkus, so it'll have to be Aurum Nostrum.

[Progatron]

Love them, but I'm a sucker for the general vibe. I found this CD years ago while shopping in Montreal and it hits the spot nicely (as does Aurum Nostrum) when the mood strikes. I've got the live album too but I think I've only ever spun it once!

[Sputnik]

I own and enjoy both Sinkadus albums. They do come off as being a bit, "Anglagard, Jr.," but if you like this sound there's no reason not to give these guys a shot. There was an article in Progression Magazine (I believe) where the band talked about being contemporaries of Anglagard. I wonder if their reputation might be different had Sinkadus released Aurum Nostrum first?

I'm not sure which I prefer between Cirkus and Aurum Nostrum. I'll make it a point to spin them both soon and report back. Anyway, good stuff, though perhaps not as dramatic and reaching as Anglagard.

Bill

[chalkpie]

Haven't heard these albums since the 90s in all honesty....Probably time for a revisit.

[TCC]

Haven't heard these albums since the 90s in all honesty....Probably time for a revisit.

The same here ...

[Scrotum Scissor]

Never really a fan, not even during the 90s. A case of simply trying to hard to be "genuine" and failing.

Aurum Nostrum is interesting for some of its lyrics, but the general mode of the music is daft, sleepy and powerless.

[dropforge]

I saw Sinkadus open ProgFest '97 and had a hard time telling their songs apart. Nearly everyone I talked to felt the same, but they did win a few people over.

[the winter tree]

I saw them from the front row in L.A. in 97 and I really liked them.

[Trane]

I actually prefer "Austrum" to Cirkus, both sounded like a poorman's Anglagard - but it's time to reinvestigate (just pulled them out of the shelf and will spin them in the car).

On stage, they're more energetic than their studio releases might indicate.
I gaught them way back in 97/8/9 and I was first row in Soignies (unassigned seating), when they reunited for that sole concert (I think they played a second one close to home) a few years back - now probably 5/6 years ago. Apparently nothing came out of these gigs, but the girls in the band were saying that their kids' education came first.




That's also where (Soignies) we learned that Sinkadus was drawn from a card game (Cinq à Deux), which we'd never heard of nefore

[Czyszy]

I can't find Cirkus anywhere to give it a listen. I love Aurum Nostrum though.

[Vic2012]

I have both. Probably haven't listened to them in 20 years. Great musicianship but vocals are challenging.

[Crystal Plumage]

Love both albums and the live/ demo.
Sure they're not as complicated or intricate as Änglagård, but they were never trying to.

I do consider them more Folk-Prog with some symphonic tendencies... or something. Mellotron + Rickenbacker is always a lovely combination
Vocals are fine with me.

Also of interest to the fan:

[JKL2000]

Putting this on next. I couldn't decide what to throw on, so letting Sean make the decision!

Has to be one of the worst album covers! The way the name Sinkadus is curved around the top of the baloon. Bad Amiga art, I think.

[Sputnik]

So, I had a fresh listen to Cirkus last night, and Aurum Nostrum tonight. I have to say, I think both albums are really very good.

My two criticisms are that Sinkadus' compositions tend to stay in very similar tempos, which I think has a lot to do with the sense that all their songs sound the same. It's a valid criticism, but if you get beyond the tempos, I don't think it holds that description holds true. I think of a band like Kotebel, who I love, and their compositions unfold in very similar ways as Sindakus, but they have a bit more variation in pace and tempo. So I don't think Sinkadus fares so badly overall, but they have never reached the heights that Kotebel have hit on their last three or so albums.

The other issue is the vocals, which aren't awesome, but I've heard far worse. I think of bands like Jordso and Elds Mark, and Sinkadus fares very well in comparison to my ears.

But there's so much here that's good to great, these two criticisms shouldn't spoil the party. Overall, I'd say these are two solid, and sometimes wonderful albums that are as good, if not far better, than many bands name-checked in the "sepia-toned Scandinavian Prog" thread. They aren't Anglagard, but neither were Anglagard on their last album. This is good stuff, well worth some time and attention, IMHO, YMMV, etc.

Bill

[Progatron]

The other issue is the vocals, which aren't awesome, but I've heard far worse.

Agreed, but then, I never listen to this kind of music for the vocals anyway.

[moecurlythanu]

They aren't Anglagard, but neither were Anglagard on their last album. .

Um, say what?

[Sputnik]

Um, say what?

I don't personally think Anglagard's last album was up to the standards of the first two, and I don't find it so super far from what Sinkadus did on their two albums.

Bill

[moecurlythanu]

I don't personally think Anglagard's last album was up to the standards of the first two, and I don't find it so super far from what Sinkadus did on their two albums.

Bill

Wow. I keep going back and forth with myself whether Hybris or the 3rd is the best.

No matter what, this band is hyperbolically criminally inactive. How does a band of this greatness sit on their ass for most of 30 years? Boston is laughing at you. Peter Gabriel is looking for tips and pointers. What the fuck is the matter with you? I'll tell you what it is, for the most part: You don't recognize your own greatness, and you never have. For the sake of all of us,..Wake up!

[Trane]

^^^

Please add smileys, because your post can be read like artistes are at your service.


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Listened to both album on my way back to The North Sea last night.

Enjoyable retro-prog with apt vocals (it's not like they're dominant in the band's soundscapes) - comparisons to Anglagard and later, early-Wobbler are inevitable.
I re-read my reviews (dating from 2004) and can only agrere with them some 18 years later.: something is lacking.

I can see why some unprepared concert goers (like not re-listening to the albums before the gig) wouldn't tell one title from another immediately, but there are often moments in one tracks that is distinctive enough from the rest. I certainly recognized a couple of tracks from their last gig, despite not preparing the gig myself.

[moecurlythanu]

^^^

Please add smileys, because your post can be read like artistes are at your service.


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I don't see that. I see frustration. And a bit of a detour, as it's a Sinkadus thread, and I was talking Anglagard.

Sorry.

[dropforge]

I can see why some unprepared concert goers (like not re-listening to the albums before the gig) wouldn't tell one title from another immediately, but there are often moments in one tracks that is distinctive enough from the rest. I certainly recognized a couple of tracks from their last gig, despite not preparing the gig myself.

No problem with any of the other bands at the fest, bud.

They just weren't inspiring. Sorry. A lot of people I spoke with felt the same way. I wondered where those "ominous flute melodies" went. She'd blow a few long notes on her flute, do a fist-pump (not kidding) and the band would plod on. But there was a real Mellotron on stage, so they're legit. Right?

[Progbear]

I admit I only listened to it once, but I agree with the “not inspiring” analysis. We're at least spared the woeful attempts at singing from the first album here, but nothing here makes me think anything but, “I’d rather be listening to Änglagård.” Sorry, guys and gals.

[miamiscot]

I really like both albums from them. A lot.

[Hour Candle]

I really like these guys. I do hear those Änglagård vibes, but I think Sinkadus has a sound and a vibe of their own. I still play those studio albums to this day and also the live one. I also saw them play live at a festival in 2014 in Gothenborg here in Sweden and they still had it. It seems they're still semi-active at least.

[Hour Candle]

I can't find Cirkus anywhere to give it a listen. I love Aurum Nostrum though.

It seems pretty hard to obtain actually, even a used copy..