Shipping out on or around September 25, 2026
PRE-ORDER LTD EDITION 7″ VINYL 500 COPIES WORLDWIDE
Killer Groove Records is proud to present the new 45 by Electric Circus, a feverish journey through sinuous, hypnotic and raw funk grooves, built around obsessive bass lines, sharp horns, dub delays and wah-wah guitars.
“High Fever” and “Ogres” are the first two singles taken from Rites, the band’s highly anticipated second studio album, set for release on November 27 on LP (limited edition), CD and digital. Alongside the digital release, both tracks will also appear on a limited 7″ vinyl (500 copies worldwide), out September 25.
On the A-side, “High Fever” maps the sonic territory of Electric Circus with unusual confidence: a vibrant crossroads where ’70s funk, afrobeat and psychedelic influences merge into an intense narrative, a sonic arc that progressively builds toward an immersive climax of synths and groove. Built around a hypnotic bass line born during a weekend of feverish creative delirium, the track unfolds as a continuous flow of energy and tension.
The groove, inspired by the funk tradition of The Meters, moves through syncopated accents with a locked-in precision, while a punchy and incisive horn section intertwines with the rhythmic fabric, establishing the track’s character from the opening bar. The arrangement gradually evolves into a deeper, more expansive dimension: dub delays and layered textures expand the sonic space, alternating with wah-wah guitars and a treated clavinet that recalls vintage atmospheres, grounded in the now.
The track moves through a darker, more nocturnal phase before opening into a climax where the saxophone rises over a bed of percussion and synths, amplifying the emotional power of the piece in a decisive and impactful way. “High Fever” is a journey into the substance of groove, where each element finds its place in a dynamic balance between instinct and construction.
On the flip side, “Ogres” is both the first track conceived for the album and the last to be completed, the result of an extended process of development and refinement. It is a primitive, relentless, and hypnotic piece, built on a deep ritualistic sonic identity. Rooted in an Ethiopian pentatonic scale, the composition began as a bass and percussion ostinato evoking a war march, gradually evolving into a dense groove layered with psychedelic and trip-hop textures. Its obsessive rhythm conjures a twilight bestiary of dark, menacing, or perhaps merely curious, creatures, as the track builds toward a tension-filled climax before dissolving into a smooth, dreamlike finale that suggests awakening, or re-emergence.
With these new works, the band reaffirms its approach: organic, performed music born from jam sessions and developed through careful, layered sonic research. The singles represent not only the opening chapters of Rites, but also a statement of intent, a warm, visceral and richly layered sound capable of evoking vivid imagery and atmosphere without sacrificing the compulsive pull of syncopated rhythm.
The tracks were recorded in multiple stages between Metrò Rec in Riva del Garda and Sberdia Studio in Turin, Italy, beginning with live tracking of the core structures and continuing with dedicated sessions for synths, horns and overdubs. This layered process allowed for meticulous production work, reamping, tube amplifiers and analog effects in a near-obsessive pursuit of the most accurate and defined tones. Artistic co-production was handled by the band together with Marco Sirio Pivetti, who also mixed the tracks, while mastering was entrusted to Riccardo Ricci at Velvet Room Mastering Studio in Brighton.
Based in Turin, Italy, Electric Circus deliver a musical experience that blends funk groove, afrobeat, psychedelia and world music. Following a U.S. tour and several international collaborations, the group earned critical and audience acclaim with their debut album Canicola. Their artistic evolution led to On est ensemble, an EP created with Malian duo Sahel Roots, highlighting their deep affinity for African sounds and musical roots, weaving them together with funk, blues and psychedelic elements.
Building on these experiences, Electric Circus now channel all their influences into new compositions driven by a strong groove-oriented vision, built on a live, rhythm-first aesthetic that rewards repeated listening. The new album Rites, due out in 2026 via Killer Groove Records, brings together funk, afrobeat and psychedelia in an immersive musical experience built on a sound that is both multifaceted and cohesive, sharpening the band’s identity into something harder to ignore.
Fans of The Heliocentrics, Calibro 35, BADBADNOTGOOD, ’70s jazz-funk, afrobeat and psychedelic sounds take note.
TRACKLIST:
SIDE A: Electric Circus – High Fever
SIDE B: Electric Circus – Ogres
Produced by Electric Circus
Co-produced by Marco Sirio Pivetti
Mixed by Marco Sirio Pivetti
Recorded at Metrò Rec Studio, Riva del Garda (TN) by Marco Sirio Pivetti and at Sberdia Studio, Torino by Gio Solo
Mastered by Riccardo Ricci at Velvet Room Studios
A&R: Daniele Flamini
Art Direction: Francesco Franz Longhi
Gabriele Garcìa Perrero – keys, synths, electric bass, acoustic guitar
Paolo Urbani – drums, percussion
Paolo Pilati – electric guitar, classical guitar
Giuliano Buratti – tenor sax, percussion
Francesco Cretti – electric bass, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, percussion
Angelo Rodio – baritone sax
