Circu5

We are inching closer to spring fellow progheads!  Yes, winter continues her cruel joke; throwing a "Bombogenesis" at us like so much crystallized confetti one minute and then raising the mercury in the thermometer just enough to entice us the next.  But the Concert Closet continues to turn up the heat in the search for all things prog.  This week we travel to the UK and check in with yet another new entry into the prog garden, Circu5.

Despite winter's habit of freezing the tundra, the soil in the prog garden is quite fertile for this time of year.  Circu5  has been tilling acreage in a dark corner of the garden over which The Closet Concert Arena shines a bright light, illuminating what is proving to be quite a discovery.

Circu5 released their self titled debut in September, a concept album dealing with a child being raised as a psychopath by the government in hopes of curing the condition.  I can actually imagine my tax dollars being spent on a project such as this; perhaps this is more like a documentary soundtrack...hmm...

The story begins with "Coming Home," and it is the  dark opening you thought it would be.  The acoustic guitar is somewhat haunting; I sat in tense anticipation of an emotional eruption that never quite came to fruition.  Instead, this piece builds the mood and tempo as you tentatively walk the gloomy halls of a manipulated mind.  The vocals and guitar work well together, like salve on an open wound you just know will get worse before it gets better.

No time to waste as the second cut, "My Degenerate Mind" begins to bleed through the headphones.  This is the hard-edged, cranium penetrating piece with a raking riff you were afraid of--or perhaps hoped for.  Circu5 does tone it down a bit; no shattering glass to unnerve you, but  there are top notes of Queens of the Stone Age interlaced with aromatics of Spock's Beard running through.  Just trying to keep you off-balance enough...

Liner Notes...hailing from Swindon, Wiltshire, UK, Circu5 was born in the mind of Steve Tilling.  Steve is a multi-instrumentalist wearing far too many hats to list here individually; suffice to say he is the lifeblood of Circu5.  Many guest musicians performing on the album include Dave Gregory and Matt Backer on guitars, Phil Spalding on backing vocals, Johnny Warman on backing vocals, Andy Neve on keyboards and synthesizers, and Alan van Kleef on drums.  Lou Young is also credited as the psychologist on "The Chosen One - Resurrection." A crowded stage indeed.

This is album is a bit autobiographical; Steve says it "...mirrors the ups and downs in my life while making it..."  If Steve was willing to bare his soul and pour everything he had into this album, how can you resist?  Circu5--the entire entourage--walked many different paths through the prog garden on this album, although dark, damp, and macabre seem to be the  strong undercurrent.  There are glimmers of light as the transformation from psychopath to "mere mortal" begins to pierce the veil...there is a brilliance to the album as you listen all the way through...a vivid breakthrough as each track bleeds into the next.

You will learn so much more about Steve Tilling, Circu5, and the making of this album at Circu5.  The music is available for purchase there as well as several other sites, including Circu5 bandcamp,
Circu5 burningshed and Circu5 iTunes.  Lots of options, so make sure you get your copy.  You will also find a Facebook page Circu5 FB and Twitter @Circu5Band  for keeping up on all the latest.

My final selection for review  is "Blame It on Me."  This is a brooding piece...the soft acoustic opening can only keep the floodgates closed for so long.  There are top notes of Foo Fighters running through as the tempo and pace push the needle to the right.  Circu5 runs through your veins like a shot of adrenaline; the loud noises and taps on the lining of your skull interspersed with a sedative to help you ride out the highs without losing control.  There are flashes of Transatlantic permeating the headphones throughout this cut as Circu5 walks up to the prog/pop line and leans in.

I chose "The Amazing Monstrous Grady" as the song to lure you in with.  This cut is the turning point of the album; psychopath meets creator if you will.  The vocals slap you as you realize the manipulated confronts the manipulator and nothing is as it seems.  This song has strong top notes of Jethro Tull at their prog best running through it.  The guitars come at you like strobe lights careening down a winding tunnel...the drums leading your steps across unknown terrain...   

Once again we reach the conclusion of week well spent.  The prog garden continues to bring forth a hearty bounty from every acre.  Progressive music is proving to be greater than the sum of its parts; each sub-genre expanding the boundaries and spawning new growth.  The search for all things prog continues to be an adventure that redefines itself weekly, each new discovery a different facet of the jewel that is progressive rock.  So time to expand the search and discover more new and exciting gems hiding in the prog garden...until next time...