There is a special kind of joy found in songs that sound like they were written by people grinning at the absurdity of the world rather than angrily kicking holes in it, and Suspex 78’s new single “I Hate the Circus” lands squarely in that glorious tradition. This is old-school punk stripped of aggression and sprayed instead with sarcasm, wit, and a slightly crooked smile.
Rather than charging forward at breakneck speed, “I Hate the Circus” strolls in with jangly confidence, embracing the playful, observational side of punk that often gets forgotten beneath mountains of leather jackets and flying beer cups. The track feels wonderfully reminiscent of John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett at their most eccentric, while also carrying echoes of TV Personalities classics like Where’s Bill Grundy Now?. There is that same sideways glance at everyday nonsense, where humour and melancholy somehow share the same park bench.
The lyrics tumble along with a delightfully scruffy charm, painting the circus less as a literal big top and more as society’s ongoing parade of oddballs, nonsense, and disappointment. Yet the song never sounds bitter. Instead, it celebrates life’s ridiculousness with the enthusiasm of someone laughing while their chips fall face down on the pavement.
“I Hate the Circus” is nostalgic without feeling dusty, clever without trying too hard, and most importantly, tremendous fun. It is the musical equivalent of finding an old punk fanzine stuffed inside a second-hand jacket pocket.