EP REVIEW: Arch Nova – Odd Circus

Listening to the latest ODD CIRCUS EP is the kind of experience that can lead you to wonder if the earth has started spinning three times faster than it usually does. As the music accelerates, so does the G-force, hurtling through complex and outlandish composition. The band seem hell-bent on making this their M.O., having released their previous EP Mantha only 12 weeks or so ago. An equally frenetic ride, it set the benchmark for what would come next, and Arch Nova does nothing other than follow suit. Four tracks, 24 minutes, very little in the way of sensical structure.

The EP opens with Maniac, a promising start that plunges us face first into ODD CIRCUS’ world. With very little time to orientate ourselves, the track very quickly becomes a tailspin, melding bass riffs that wouldn’t seem out of place in a RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS track with avant-garde jazz. It’s all a bit ethereal, with jagged, haunted trumpet wailing above barrelling drums and that unsettling bassline. And as such we drive forward, trying to allow our senses the chance to catch up to the music.

Wasteland slows things down slightly, playing out as a much longer track that allows us a little space to breathe. The individual elements begin to stand out more, and details shine through that were previously hidden in the madness. These longer song formats work well for ODD CIRCUS, giving them a platform to display their technical prowess, while retaining a brooding, jazz noir feel. The title track does this similarly well, steering somewhat clear of outright freneticism and encompassing us with thick atmosphere. Images of empty city streets begin to form, drowned in faint light from timeworn neon.

ODD CIRCUS are an acquired taste, there is no doubt, but they are building something unique, that scintillates with creativity and intrigue. Prepare yourselves for this one, plug headphones in, and immerse yourself in the world of oddities this band conjure.

Rating: 7/10

Arch Nova is out now via Good Idea Music.

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