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Satan's Circus Image
Metascore
63

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 8 Ratings

  • Summary: The duo's fourth album departs from previous outings, taking an all-instrumental (and guitar-free) approach rather than relying on guest vocalists. Think Kraftwerk and you won't be too far off.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 13
  2. Negative: 1 out of 13
  1. Q Magazine
    70
    A diverting synthesis of analogue old-schoolery and modern genre-hopping. [Nov 2004, p.117]
  2. Mojo
    70
    Their most challenging record to date. [Nov 2004, p.102]
  3. New Musical Express (NME)
    70
    Dead-eyed, malevolent and alluring. [9 Oct 2004, p.57]
  4. Los Angeles Times
    63
    The vibe is ultimately too sterile to be compelling, let alone truly malevolent. [5 Jun 2005]
  5. Uncut
    60
    At times it's hard to see the point of such a meticulous homage to motorik.... Nevertheless, [it's] DIV's most aesthetically satisfying album. [Dec 2004, p.145]
  6. Ultimately fails to capture or update the magickal mysticism of the music it seeks to draw from.
  7. Disembodied bleeps and European synth drifts opt for bleak, alien magnetism but just end up sounding utterly depressing.

See all 13 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. harryhp
    Aug 8, 2005
    10
    Studio album is superb even without the free live at Brixton (CD only) extra 70 odd minutes of classic DIV in the early hours of a Sunday Studio album is superb even without the free live at Brixton (CD only) extra 70 odd minutes of classic DIV in the early hours of a Sunday morning. But with it, Satan's Circus becomes perfecto. The best live act of the last 20 years? Too right! Expand
  2. TomK
    Nov 12, 2004
    8
    The album does wear its influences rather boldly (which can be said of all their other albums). It actually sounds like they made this one to The album does wear its influences rather boldly (which can be said of all their other albums). It actually sounds like they made this one to amuse no-one but themselves, which actually makes for quite an entertaining and rewarding listen. Expand
  3. aland
    May 21, 2005
    8
    a confusing, loathable, simple, and ugly peice of work that becomes something really addictive after you spend a month or two gleefully a confusing, loathable, simple, and ugly peice of work that becomes something really addictive after you spend a month or two gleefully hating it. really good record. Expand
  4. johnnys
    Nov 10, 2004
    7
    littlebit kraftwerk - should i say inspired. seem to be experimenting at my expense. no band should stand still so it is good and may feed littlebit kraftwerk - should i say inspired. seem to be experimenting at my expense. no band should stand still so it is good and may feed future releases Expand