'IMAGES OF THE ORION NEBULA' EP
A 5-piece from Halifax, The Riverbank Morning Circus alternatively rock forth with ambitions and musical visions as far-reaching as fellow Yorkshire lads The Music.
Here are another 3 highly experimental tracks, led out into the nether regions of originality by 'Mountain Shadows' that's a spaced-out prog-rock instrumental that wouldn't sound out of place on David Bowie's weirdo 'Outside' attempt at truly confusing the hell out of even his most hardcore fans.
TRMC cite Arab Strap, Pantera, Pink Floyd and Mogwai as profound influences on their musical style, and certainly the Mogwai connection can be startlingly heard on 'Amok' with its understated emotional dynamism and heady walls of toiling sound. Shunning all forms of peer pressure to conform with the direction this band is boldly taking its intriguing music, all members - at the time of going to press under stress and duress - are less than 20 years of age. And yet already they are so mature and forward thinking.
The mid-EP track is one to listen to for Paolo's bizarre vocals that sound other worldly and ethereally like an out-of-it cross between Ian Brown and Badly Drawn Boy soaring above the transcendentally melodic music and the sublime tunes within tunes.
Yep. If you think their band name is interesting, just you wait until you hear their astonishing music� 4/5 (Steve Rudd)
www.riverbankmorningcircus.org.uk