Cirque du Sŏnus – Antoin Gibson (reviewed by Dave Franklin)

This new ep from Antoin Gibson is more than just the release of new music; it is a sonic celebration, a creative mission statement, and a musical marker of Circum-Sŏnus Ltd becoming manifest. Or has the artist behind it himself put it, “A commemoration of the label’s manifestation into legal reality.”

And to soundtrack this historical event, he gives us this two-track, two-act ep. Taking the imagery and metaphor of the circus, he blends dark, spacious pop with denser, at times almost industrial sonics, operatic vocals with edgy atmospheres, spoken-word introductions, ambient drifts and alternative EDM.

Slow and steady deliveries steer this music away from all but the most progressive and experimental dancefloors and into more artistic, more poignant realms. Two acts: one that describes the performer’s dexterity in the circus ring itself, the other that allows us to view a bigger picture from outside that tented world.

And this is more than just a music release: to mark the ritual that brings his new enterprise to life, a multidisciplinary array—a three-dimensional art attack incorporating conceptual photo shoots, international collaborators, and graphic designers—adds unexpected dimensions to the project.

As statements of intent go, this lands impressively within a pop landscape that is in much need of revitalisation. Is Cirque du Sŏnus the answer? Could Antoin Gibson be its saviour? Watch this space.

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