CirKus...I'm coming at this band for the first time through their self-remixed album "Laylower" and they're a curious combination of players who announced themselves to the world in 2006 with the release of a single for the song "Is What It Is". Now that we're two decades into the exploration of that ever-beloved by some and ever-reviled by others sound called Triphop, it's safe to say, CirKus are making the kind of music we've all been pining for since Massive Attack and Portishead left us (for the most part) empty-handed in the mid-90s. They present tension, tranquility, angst and beauty, and nearly all at once in the same breath.

1. Laylow
2. Is what it is
3. Cutting Out a Career
4. Failsafe
5. You're Such an...
6. Time for the Whistle
7. Ruff Turf
8. Fuc All the Doh
9. Starved
10. Love Can
11. Born Again
12. Fools
13. Sunny Tuesday

Just looking at them from the surface, you've got Neneh Cherry, who's strong and well reknowned charisma really shines. You've got its founders Burt Ford and Karmil, along with a seemingly unassuming teenager with a remarkably mature voice, Lolita Moon, who also goes by Lola. Karmil is a classical guitarist who also acts as the bands turntablist and beat maker. In contrast to Karmil's conservative presence, Burt Ford, one of the bands three vocalists, is among CirKus' most focal and curiously disarming personalities. With thick-rimmed glasses and sharply collared jacket, he looks all the world like a 1950's computer technician. If you're reading this from America, just think of the Verizon guy. As fellow founder Karmil puts it, "I can't quite reconcile his looks with the sounds he makes", and while I wholeheartedly agree with Karmil on that point, that contrast is part of the reason I just can't look away from CirKus. In fact, it's part of what draws me in like a moth to light.

Even though CirKus released their first single a scant two years ago, the band presents itself as a seasoned collective far more advanced than its years should allow. It goes beyond the skills of each individual. It's the way they all interact on stage and in the studio. Watching their live videos on Youtube I'm amazed at the strength of their stage presence. Even Lola, the greenest performer among them, takes strong command of the performance when her vocals are the centerpiece. It goes without saying that Neneh Cherry captivates the entire audience, even those watching at 12 frames-per-second.

Their cohesion carries over into their songwriting with a somehow expected ease. Finding my introduction to their sound through "Laylower", which is an exact collection of re-versions from CirKus' debut album "Laylow", I have to wonder how they've developed. These re-versions, performed by the band themselves, incorporate the experiences and new perspectives they've gained over the packed year of touring that followed the release of their debut album. It is for all purposes like seeing a childs development after say, six years of living. There is an acquired maturity that can't but show itself clearly.

Getting down to their sound, CirKus present a combination of acoustic guitar, hip hop beats, rapped/spoken and emotionally charismatic vocals, turntablist scratches, and a variety of dark and dreamy instrumentation. Having three vocalists you can expect to hear a large number of duets and trios orchestrated like a relay as one voice or duet hands off the song to the next.

"Laylow", the opening track is a good example of how their sound comes together over the life of the album, though it doesn't soul and jazz influences that are prevalent on many of the other songs. It starts off with a simple acoustic guitar strumming that's joined by a simple, melodic duet between Lolita Moon and Burt Ford. Ford's vocals then take a lead with an peculiarly reggae-styled sound. Melodica plays quietly in the background. After a short while, Karmil drops some heavy, but sparse hip hop beats and follows on with a bit of turntablist action. The effect is produces a classic triphop sound, but it's genuine. After a moment of that, Moon's voice takes lead and quickly gives way to a climax of strong guitar work, really heavy beats and a strong vocal performance from Neneh Cherry. It's abrasive at that moment, but soon fades back into the tranquility of Ford and Moon's vocals. of course later on, Neneh Cherry and the strong guitar and beats take control again. That's largely how the album works, socially focused lyrics tell stories alongside sounds like waves with a slow tidal change from serene to abrasive.

In the end, CirKus have become one of my favorite new bands. Perfectly suited to getting all socio-politically introspective, with a nodding head and perfect balance of relaxation and tension.

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