Circus 10

While much of Europe was winding down out of the progressive rock era and heading to safer grounds while the flood of punk and disco sounds were trumpeting around the world, the Swiss band CIRCUS continued to swim upstream by cranking out some of the most complex sounds of the entire 1970s. While forming in 1972 in Basel, the band nurtured its intelligently designed art form to the point the four members of Marco Cerletti (bass, bass pedals, guitar, backing vocals), Andreas Grieder (flute, alto saxophone, backing vocals, tambourine), Roland Frei (lead vocals, acoustic guitar, saxophone) and Fritz Hauser (drums, vibraphone, percussion) succeed in carving out an utterly distinct niche within the prog universe that to this day still sounds like no other.

Recorded between 1968 and 1970, the tracks on this eponymous CD were not released back then and represent Headstone Circus' complete legacy. Bassist Nick Bonis, drummer Randy Ray Pope and lead guitarist Mike Johnstone formed Headstone Circus in 1966. The group was meant to have a psychedelic rock imprint, but the addition of singer/songwriter Glenn Faria diverted that original intention toward something much closer to Crosby, Stills & Nash, Neil Young or Buffalo Springfield. Upon listening to these tracks released almost 40 years after the fact, it is obvious that the group was doing some things right. Faria has a warm and soulful voice, the multi-part vocal harmonies (the main CS&N tie-in) are beautiful and most of the melodies exert an immediate appeal…

Frontiers Music Srl is pleased to announce the second release from Finland's Circus Of Rock, "Lost Behind The Mask". Circus Of Rock is a massive musical project masterminded by drummer Mirka Rantanen (King Company) and "Lost Behind The Mask" is the monstrous follow-up to the band's epic debut album. Circus Of Rock's debut album, “Come One, Come All” was released in August 2021 and featured a killer line-up of singers and musicians. Members of bands from the likes of Amaranthe, Tyketto, Hardline, Nightwish, Leverage, Stratovarius, Brother Firetribe, Masterplan, and others were all involved. Certainly a tall order to come up with a suitable sequel, but Mirka has more than capably risen to the occasion by recruiting a stellar casts of guests including members of Lordi, Pink Cream 69, Uriah Heep, Girish And The Chronicles, Sons Of Apollo, Ring Of Fire, and more.

This super blend of psych-pop and experimental acid rock originnaly appeared on the legendary Mainstream label in 1969. Recorded by a bunch of Canadian musicians who'd fetched up in New York, it received no airplay or promotional support and was soon deleted, but has gone on to become one of the most sought-after major label LPs of the period. Enjoyable from start to finish, it's a treat for all fans of melodic psychedelia.