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)
Thank you so much, Music Connection Magazine and Eric Harabadian, for featuring Circuline in your November 2020 Livestream Reviews, for our 15-date, 45-Event NewView Virtual Tour!
We are reproducing the entire article here for your ease of reading:
Material: Circuline is a modern rock band that puts the emphasis on harmony, melody and good song structure. Drawing heavily from the progressive rock tradition, they jam with the best of them. But the melodic essence of their tunes is key, and will resonate with you for some time to come. Shades of YES, ELP, The Moody Blues, early Jefferson Starship, Curved Air, Steve Hackett and many other elements factor into their unique and original sound. The theatrical sci-fi-like “Forbidden Planet,” “Inception’s” stratospheric arc, the jazzy “Summit” and the incredibly cinematic “Stereotypes” display the wide range of this mega-talented troupe.
Musicianship: The merging of several ingredients and disciplines creates their cauldron of creativity. Colyer is a Juilliard-trained pianist who mans an impressive bank of keyboards. His composing, arranging skills and ability to coax a plethora of otherworldly sounds out of his instruments is jaw-dropping. The same can be said for Brown and Spillane’s front line vocals. Their singular and harmonic exchanges provide a rich and exciting choral effect. Brannon’s drumming intrepidly weaves through all the accents and tempo shifts providing back beat, and even stepping out front for a solo spot. Darson comes from the Hackett/DiMeola/Fripp school of guitar and, along with the versatile low end of Simches, rounds out this ensemble in a grand manner.
Performance: From September through early October 2020 the band has been promoting their new album “Circulive” with an exclusive Facebook Live “New View Virtual Tour.” Via their FB site, audiences have been treated to video premieres and behind-the-scenes online chats where the band talks live about the making of the videos. These weekly installments really seemed to connect with fans as the chat room was consistently active and engaged. The video premieres showcase the band performing at various venues in the U.S. and Europe. Throughout these performances there is a true team spirit that is evident. Everyone checks their ego at the door and the result is a shared experience between the ensemble and their audience.
Summary: Circuline is a progressive rock band that seems to really connect with their fans. And, during these unprecedented times, this “New View Virtual Tour” further displays their “out of the box” resolve and approach.
The digital online version of this article was originally published on October 26th, 2020. Here is the link:
Thank you so much, Progressor (Uzbekistan) and Kev Rowland, for giving CircuLive::NewView a 5-Star-Review!!
Here is the entire review, reprinted in full:
Released last year, this triple CD/DVD/Blu-ray captures Circuline at 2017’s ProgStock Festival.
I was sent this as an audio download to review, but I also ended up with a physical copy and I am so glad I did, as seeing the full package is quite something. As well as the digipak containing the discs and some basic information, my copy came with a full colour glossy 28 page A4 programme which contains loads of photos, information about the history of the band, details of everyone who ever played with them, why certain changes were made in line-up, and so much more.
Although I have been playing the audio a great deal recently in time for the review, I actually first played the Blu-ray with the audio commentary turned on, and it is exactly what it purports to be, various band members talking about the show, why certain pieces were played, the history and so much more. I have always enjoyed these as they never cease to add so much more to the band, providing a far more rounded view to outsiders like me, and that is again the case here.
It was recorded at ProgStock, so it is a given that the camerawork and audio quality are first rate, and by 2017 they had released two albums (I have not heard the second, need to rectify that) and had been touring them hard both in America and the UK. Additionally, much of the band had originally worked together as a covers group playing prog classics (keep an ear out for bits and pieces which make their way into this set unannounced), so they all know what they are doing and were confident in their own abilities and knowing the audience would be very much on their side.
The album is as one would expect from a prog band: they are able to replicate onstage the huge complexity of their music while also taking it to another level. It is multi-layered, multi-faceted, yet always immediate, allowing the listener to get deep inside the music the very first time of playing it. The PR company describes the band as “two theatrical lead vocalists, a keyboard player from Juilliard, a versatile rock virtuoso on guitar, a zany bass player from another galaxy, and a drummer with progressive rock in his DNA.” That does not really give them the kudos they deserve, for a wonderfully entertaining and enjoyable set.
There are very few international acts (even in normal times), and even less prog acts (stand up Yes and Steve Hackett) who make it down all the way to Aotearoa, so I know the likelihood of ever seeing Circuline in concert is very small indeed. However, this wonderful set allows me to play the concert on a big screen and revel in a very professional and exciting crossover commercial progressive rock band who are a sheer delight from the beginning to the end.
