Thank you so much, Russell Trunk, for reviewing Circuline’s C.O.R.E. !!
“The brand new recording opens on the simply magnificent, free flowing AOR-prog that rides on veritably glistening wings, Tempus Horribilis and then we get the beautifully sweet Third Rail, the Steven Wilson meets Pierre Moerlin’s Gong sounds that thrive within Say Their Name and the funky bass line-fed, mid-tempo prog rock that drives All.
Along next is the sumptuously-sculpted AOR ballad Temporal Thing, which is itself backed seamlessly by the more enchanted vibrancy that drifts within the gripping You, the album rounding out on the gorgeous power balladry of Blindside, closing on another song about relationships and finding yourself, the near ten-minute opus Transmission Error.”
Thank you so much, Classic Album Review, for recommending Circuline’s new album C.O.R.E. on your YouTube Channel of 66K subscribers!
“Some great new prog and rock here…..fascinating…..wonderful…..gorgeous album…..lovely stuff…..wailing guitar from Dave Bainbridge – wonderful tone, very Gilmour-esque…..love the bass – well done! Gentle-Giant-esque vocal stabs…..serene guitar patches…..delightful warbling…..wonderful job with the singing…..wraps up with a nine-minute epic…chugging guitar…..fluty keyboard parts…..Newman-esque vocal affectations…..nice contrast with the quieter piano parts…..I urge you to check this one out…..this album is really fascinating…..Do check this one out! I seriously mean it, I think you’ll like it.”
Watch this intro – this guy is funny! The Circuline Album review starts around 8:09. Enjoy!
Thank you so much to Background Magazine’s Henri Strik and Tracy van Os van den Abeelen, for this FANTASTIC review! We are reprinting it here IN FULL, and if you want to read it on their website, the link is included at the bottom of this post. 😀 ~
For many lovers of progressive rock living in the USA is Circuline a rather well known name. However for those living on the other side of the Atlantic ocean this name doesn’t ring any bells for most of them. They don’t know that they started early 2014 and released already two studio albums. Namely Return (2015) and Counterpoint (2016). This sextet from New York occasionally does some live performance in their country and also wants to climb the stage in Europe. But as with many bands from North or South America it is rather difficult to reach their audience outside their home country and see them face to face. Therefore it is sometimes a good way to come with a live release. This also occurs for Circuline. Therefore they decide to come up with a second live release in their career after putting out Circulive::Majestik back in 2018. So it’s now time to welcome Circulive: New View. It’s a release which is without any doubt a great bundle to own. Why? Because it brings out the audio and video on CD, DVD and Blu-ray in one package. How cool is that!
New View was recorded at the ProgStock Festival October 14th in 2017. It was done in a line up consisting of Andrew Colyer (keyboards / vocals / percussion), Darin Brannon (drums / keyboards), Natalie Brown (lead vocals / percussion), William Spillane (lead vocals / rhythm guitar / percussion), Joel Simches (bass / bass pedals / drums / acoustic guitar) and Alek Darson (lead and rhythm guitars).
The whole release is rather entertaining and gives us a cross-section of their already mentioned two studio albums. There is also one composition written by Sound of Contact, namely Pale Blue Dot. A great version if I may say so. Moreover we have the great Piano Challenge between Andrew Colyer and Darin Brannon. A medley with scraps of classical music as well as excerpts of Tarkus (ELP) and Awaken (Yes). Also nice is The Drum Feature that follows the soundscape-like Forbidden Planet. Instead of just letting the drummer go behind his kit on his percussion, everyone taps, drums or plays on a percussion instrument. Nice for variety and as a show element and is something which Gentle Giant and Lazuli have also done on stage.
For me it is the instrumental parts such as in Fallout Shelter, Forbidden Planet and Stereotypes that appeal to me very much because everyone has mastered their instrument well and radiates pleasure playing. In addition to the pointed but delightful guitar solos, the classical piano playing and the flashy bass playing on the Rickenbacker are particularly striking. Off course it doesn’t mean that the songs in which the two singers are included are the worst compositions done. Both singers have strong voices and add really something to the band.
All in all you can say that the keyboards stand out, and you can tell who is holding the strings here. But the guitar work is not neglected either and supported by an excellent rhythm group.
The DVD contains the same material as the CD, but the Blu-ray offers additional video content: concert with audio commentary, backstage and behind the scenes material, official videos, onstage photo slide show and concert poster slide show. So the fan gets a lot of material here and will be thrilled.
In the end Circuline offers the fan the best-off par excellence but also the perfect live album which will obviously delight all the followers of the group but which will also serve as a starting point for all those who want to discover this great American band. This is a real must for fans of Glass Hammer, Renaissance, Magenta and Yes! And of course for lovers of progressive rock in general! Well done indeed! Next time please get to the other side of the Atlantic!!!
**** Henri Strik (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen)
