East London four-piece FlickaDotCircus have served up a slice of their unique sound with their latest EP, Compact 33.
Building upon their previous single 'Rabbits Vein', which featured an incredibly haunting sample of Rosemary Clooney's song 'Hey There' and a similarly trippy video to boot, the band have produced further evidence of their forward thinking style. Blending a mixture of hip-hop, electronic music and new influential bands, FlickaDotCircus create something fresh out of all this, making their music accessible to a range of listeners.
Lead track 'Compact' works as a good introduction to their sound. Beginning with a slick guitar riff, the song soon takes flight with MC's Alfalfa and KillaNick contributing their lines before off-beat percussion is intelligently brought into play. The synthesisers and electronic elements fit seamlessly into the piece and take centre stage following the tracks breakdown. 'The Network' is more lyrically focused but the XX style, reverb drenched guitar work and solid rhythms must also be commended. Final track 'Gone' features a similarly melodic guitar riff, this time evoking comparisons with indie band Foals. However, the minimal electronic elements and lyrics take the song into a whole new realm. Each track on the EP definitely offers something different from the band, who are clearly influenced by a range of music. For example, 'Hole and Ditch' emanates more of a relaxed vibe, with the organ melody that is utilised beneath the two MCs' flows. In comparison, 'Snoop' establishes a home-grown hip-hop feel with the distorted vocals and sampled feel of the melody.
Overall, Compact 33 is an impressive and diverse work that should see burgeoning group FlickaDotCircus breaching new territory.
