Short Reviews [Circuline - 2015 - "Return"]

Circuline are an American progressive rock group, who formed out of Downing Grey, a band who used to perform two 90-minutes sets a night covering the likes of ELP, Gentle Giant, Rush etc. But the band had a desire to become an originals act, and the result is this debut album which was released in 2015. The band at the time were Andrew Coyler (keyboards, bass pedals, vocals), Bill Shannon (guitars, vocals), Billy Spillane (lead vocals), Darin Brannon (drums, percussion, vocals) and Natalie Brown (lead vocals) and they brought in Matt Dorsey (bass), Randy McStine (vocals) and Joe Deninzon (electric violin) to assist on the album. Having cut their chops playing long sets of classic prog, that the band can play and work well together is never in doubt, but what is really of interest here is their refusal to fit into any of what has gone before but instead are really progressing as opposed to regressing. Sure, it is easy to say, “oh that might have been influenced by Genesis”, or “that is a bit Gentle Giant”, but in reality, what we have here is a band who are seriously attempting not to sound anyone else in the scene while delivering complex pieces which are both fascinating and incredibly easy to get inside. In many ways, the band I find I am reminded most of is Spock’s Beard and their debut ‘The Light’; not in the way they are playing, as musically they are often poles apart, but more in the approach. When Spock’s Beard first became known in the UK when that album was first available on import back in ’95 (pre-internet, remember those days), it was not only for what they were playing but how they were bringing together so many different facets to create something quite new. That is again the case here, as while their form of progressive rock is incredibly melodic, and very American, it stays away from all the norms and instead tries to be something which stands very much on its own. Having so many singers, and male/female leads, it makes one think that is an over-the-top vocal harmony group, but like everything they do on this album it is all in moderation. Some of the music is based very much on the piano, others sweeping keyboards, while the guitar may be the main focal point, or not. The result is an album which can be enjoyed the very first time it is played, and it just keeps getting better. I am somewhat of a loss to realise that when checking ProgArchives only my good friend Tomasz has written a review of an album that has now been available for nearly six years, but given I am so late to the party as well it just shows how in some ways this album has gone under the radar. One of the real joys for me is knowing that when playing this I have no idea where the journey is going to take me, and what paths we are going to travel to the end, only knowing that every step will be a delight and that I will smile all the way. If you have yet to discover Circuline, then you really do need to give them a try as these are essential for anyone who wants their prog to be a little less challenging, a little more commercial, but complex and dynamic.