Rocking Horse Music Club offers an expansive Progressive Rock opera/concept album with the collaboration of numerous artists from the international scene. The title of the album is “Circus Of Wire Dolls” and will be released on September 16, 2022 and I am pleased to be able to preview it courtesy of the production studio. The concept of the work deals with a man who creates a miniature circus out of wire, string, and cloth. In his imagination by him, the performers of his circus come to life with human thoughts and emotions. The story begins with “Prologue Riverside” a track that introduces us with a dreamy atmosphere made of intertwining guitar and keyboards towards the more prog sounds of the ending. An emotional and intense vocal concludes this opening passage, telling us about the regrets and missed opportunities of a tragically deceased resident at the height of his literary career. A fine interweaving of electronic keyboards and guitar opens “Circus Of Wire Dolls” with a solid rhythmic session full of tempo changes. A long track of over 8 minutes with a marked Progressive imprint with long instrumental sections that enhance the technique of the artists involved. The lyrics speak of PT Wolfe, the creator of a magical mechanical circus of wire dolls, for which his circus artists live, breathe and are animated and each tell their own story. “Packed Up” is an intense tarccia with orchestrations in the background and horns and a soft drumming, the dreamy atmospheres permeate the song. His circus performance is over and PT puts it back in his suitcase on his way to the hotel, nostalgic and drained and this melancholy track tells the story. The orchestrations link the next “Senseless Sky” which has an intricate and energetic rhythm and elaborate interweaving of keyboards and guitar. A brief passage but full of emotions and refined sounds, with the chorus that tells the human condition and difficulty and PT in the end adds the thought of him. A mixture of Prog and Rock characterizes “Animate In 5 8” with a very well elaborated structure and enthralling vocal intertwining between choirs and solo voices. The Neo Prog plots permeate the song, full of pathos and with a melancholy touch, where the whole cast realizes the fragility of being alive. A more delicate and less intricate passage but with excellent keyboard backgrounds and enveloping melodies. An intertwining of guitar arpeggios characterize “To Reach The Other Side” with a splendid vocal where the tightrope walker contemplates his life on a tightrope. PT simultaneously contemplates the struggle to live in daily chaos. A short song that increases in intensity with the passing of the minutes, turning in the second part into a solid track halfway between Prog and Rock. A vocal duet is at the center of the following track “Will You Be My Downfall” where The Tightrope Walker contemplates a budding relationship with the Prima Donna. A nice dialogue with softer music with good keyboard textures offering a smooth and flowing sound. “So Little Left” returns to the most melancholic sounds of the band, with an excellent soft orchestral background, passionately telling the story of The Roustabout. The worker, thanks to passionate music and a valuable vocal interpretation, wonders what he has gained in exchange for his years of loyal service out of the spotlight. “It’s Not About You” opens with the strings that with the input of the instruments give life to an energetic and rhythmic track, with a very involving sound and Rock features. The horns are added with fine workmanship solo inserts, while the vocal tells of the circus lion who realizes his dependence on the tamer and fights to declare his independence. Rich in tempo changes and with Symphonic traits that intertwine with the power of Rock, in the finale it offers an intense instrumental section that concludes the song in crescendo. Combining the traits of a Waltzer with the more modern Rock “Trapeze Waltz” is another intense passage full of pathos with good vocal textures. The modern sounds combine with the traditional ones, the lyrics tell of the relationship of extreme trust between a couple of trapeze artists, loyal to each other but without love and who struggle to find happiness after the performance every night. The horns in the finale offer a solo cue, while the track flows with a melancholy touch. With a solid and percussive rhythmic session “Burn” is enriched by tempo changes, with symphonic openings and a vocal at times operatic. The intensity increases with the passing of the minutes in a crescendo that also elaborates the structure of the piece, recounting the fears of the Fire Breather. Disguised as a man to succeed in a male-dominated profession, as well as her fears, he tells about her desire to preserve his identity. Piano and guitar open “Cut From A Different Cloth” with a warm and expressive vocal, it is a track with sad tones that tells of a tightrope walker now fallen into old age. The piano sounds perfectly convey the idea, as does the vocal which tells of his only remaining skill, to avoid death while being pushed to greet the audience. “Face Of Rain” is characterized by a modern sound that combines the traits of the song with those of the softer and more passionate Prog. A journey into PT’s thoughts that questions the meaning of art and the value of his work, whether it was a waste of time in pursuit of an unattainable perfection. A good song that manages to transmit emotions and sensations with a pleasant and soft sound. Dreamy arpeggios open “0300” which presents modern and more electronic sounds blend with the violins, the programming marks the time. The vocal is very intense and PT, after a life spent abroad with performances, struggles to stay at home and is restless, does not sleep, as opposed to the happiness of his wife who can have his mother close again. the intensity increases, letting the wife’s emotions leak out, with good guitar weaves in the finale focused on positive sounds. With a modern touch and electronic sounds mixed with the more classic ones, “SY22” is a reflective track, with the winds in the background that penetrate our minds. The track evolves with an instrumental section that allows us to enter into empastia with PT, who remembers his arrival in France, hoping to experience the last glories of the Great War. Unfortunately for him he is faced with a different situation and the piece conveys these sensations to us, ending with a melancholic instrumental part. “Lost A Piece Of Me” is the shortest in duration and the saddest in content, a dedication for all the dear departed: his mother, his father, his wife. The pathos comes out of the speakers, with a lyric and the vocal rips tears. “House Party At Jack’s” follows the more electronic sounds of Prog, recalling the German music of groups such as Kraftwerk, without any sung parts. The modulations take us, as the title says, to a modern party, with synths in evidence and a pompous electronic drumming. A guitar and piano arpeggio opens “Flowers In November” which returns to the most acoustic and classic sounds, with a warm and expressive vocal. The orchestral backgrounds are soft and delicate and the piece is again a reflection that intertwines the thoughts of the tightrope walker and those of PT. The violin offers dreamy inserts in the central part, while in the second part these melancholy thoughts continue to develop as PT’s youth fades. Returning to the more classic sounds of Prog “Every Show Must End” is full of tempo changes and phrasing between the instruments. The rhythmic session is solid and the symphonic openings embellish the piece, which as the title suggests tells of how PT, after having presented his show to thousands of people, decides that it must end. A solid track in line with the sounds of the Symphonic Prog, with good mixes between guitar and keyboards, the vocal is intense and the bass lines give body to the sound. “All Shall Be Well” is a track that returns to the most melancholic sounds and close to the song, with that sad touch with PT that evokes his mother who sings a traditional hymn to comfort him. Focused on a very intense vocal interpretation, the sound intertwines orchestrations and guitar with a soft touch, in a crescendo of emotions and more symphonic and choral openings. Time passes, this is the theme of “Circus Waltz” a solid Prog track with fine violin inserts and good mixes between guitar and keyboard. Entirely instrumental it is a succession and intertwining of solos between guitar and violin, tempo changes and an energetic rhythm, a good song of Symphonic Prog. The album ends with “Coda Slide Down The Cellar Door” another sad track, as both the author and PT have reached the end of their days. Full of emotions and melancholy sounds, it mixes Prog and Rock traits with good solo guitar textures, concluding this good work with a touch of sadness. The last two tracks are two alternative versions of “Cut From A Different Cloth” and “All Shall Be Well” proposed in their originally conceived version. A work with reflective themes, at times melancholic and very realistic about life and the sensations experienced by the various characters in the story. An album with very varied and original sounds that allow us to follow the course of this poignant story with very technical and high-level interpretations. Some more progressive tracks and others modern, which allow you to tell the various passages that make up the plot. A long-lasting album that, however, remains enjoyable from start to finish, making us reflect too with the characters. A recommended listening and a work of fine workmanship with some passages and very refined ideas.
Tracklist
01. Prologue Riverside (3:46)
02. Circus Of Wire Dolls (8:45)
03. Packed Up (featuring Noel McCalla) (3:28)
04. Senseless Sky (2:46)
05. Animate In 5 8 (featuring Noel McCalla) (4:13)
06. To Reach The Other Side (2:58)
07. Will You Be My Downfall (3:52)
08. So Little Left (featuring Tim Bowness) (3:58)
09. It’s Not About You (4:05)
10. Trapeze Waltz (featuring Ms Amy Birks) (4:14)
11. Burn (featuring Caroline Carter) (4:41)
12. Cut From A Different Cloth (featuring Chris Difford) (4:04)
13. Face Of Rain (3:57)
14. 0300 (4:54)
15. SY22 (5:15)
16. Lost A Piece Of Me (1:28)
17. House Party At Jack’s (1:58)
18. Flowers In November (4:00)
19. Every Show Must End (8:00)
20. All Shall Be Well (featuring Evelyn Cormier and Sing Gospel) (4:04)
21. Circus Waltz (featuring David Cross) (4:03)
22. Coda Slide Down The Cellar Door (6:19)
23. Cut From A Different Cloth (Original Version)
24. All Shall Be Well (Original Version)
Lineup
Author A once-lauded novelist, now forgotten, PT Wolfe’s creator / Brian Coombes
PT Wolfe The creator of the circus of wire dolls / Justin Cohn
Ringmaster The leader of the circus of wire dolls and PT Wolfe’s alter ego / Noel McCalla
Prima Donna A singer in the circus of wire dolls / Caroline Carter
Tightrope Walker A highwire performer in the circus of wire dolls / Patrik Gochez
Roustabout A laborer for the circus of wire dolls Tim Bowness
Lion A lion in the circus of wire dolls / Patrik Gochez
King of the Flying Trapeze A male artist in the circus of wire dolls / Justin Cohn
Queen of the Flying Trapeze A female artist in the circus of wire dolls / Amy Birks
Fire Breather A pyrotechnics performer in the circus of wire dolls / Caroline Carter
Oldest Man Alive An elderly curiosity in the circus of wire dolls / Chris Difford
Wife PT Wolfe’s wife / Michelle Coombes
Mother PT Wolfe’s mother / Evelyn Cormier
Choir / Sing Gospel
Chorus / Patrik Gochez
Brittany Laine
Brian Coombes
Musicians:
Justin Cohn / Lead & Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Brian Coombes / Keyboards, Lead & Backing Vocals, Bass, Additional Instrumentation
David Cross / Violin on Circus Waltz
Mikaela Davis/ Harp on 0300
Kenwood Dennard / Additional Drums on Senseless Sky
Melvin Duffy / Pedal steel on Cut from a Different Cloth
Jon Finn / Electric Guitars
Juli Finn / Electric & Acoustic Guitars
Richard Gardzina / Flutes, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet
Patrik Gochez / Piano, Electric Pianos, Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Lead & Backing Vocals
Aaron Gratzmiller / Saxophones on Senseless Sky
John Hackett / Flute on Trapeze Waltz
Brenden Harisiades / Bass
Jeremy Harman / Cello
Greg Hawkes / Alto Saxophone & Additional Keyboards on It’s Not About You
Matt Jensen / Additional Acoustic Guitars on Cut from a Different Cloth
Myron Kibbee / Acoustic & Electric 6- & 12-String Guitars
Josh Kimball / Electric Guitars, Programming
Mike McAdam / Electric & Acoustic Guitars
Bobby Rice / Drums on Will You Be My Downfall, Trapeze Waltz & All Shall Be Well
Kate St John / Oboe, Cor Anglais, Accordion
Eric Smith / Percussion
Wesley Thurber / Trumpet
Rob Townsend / Soprano Saxophone on Trapeze Waltz & Circus Waltz
Eric Wagley / Drums
Jenna Yagjian / Violin