Short Reviews [Circuline - 2024 - "C.O.R.E."]

It has been way too long since we last heard from Circuline, with 'Counterpoint' being released eight years ago, and the live 'Circulive: New View' coming out in 2020, but finally they are back with a new album. I am not sure why it has taken so long, but I know Andrew Colyer has been very active with both Robert Berry and The Tubes, and then on top of that we have had some line-up changes. The core of the band since 2014, Andrew (keyboards, lead & backing vocals), Darin Brannon (drums & percussion, keyboards) and Natalie Brown (lead & backing vocals) have now been joined by bassist Shelby Logan Warne (Kyros) and multi-instrumentalist Dave Bainbridge (The Strawbs, Iona, Lifesigns) who this time around provides guitars and additional keyboards. Ex-member William "Billy" Spillane provides backing vocals, while Joe Deninzon (Kansas, Stratospheerius) plays violin on one song. The band describe their music as "modern cinematic rock" and if by that they mean they provide classic symphonic prog with modern twists then they have nailed it on the head. Harmony vocals are a key element of what they are doing, and there are times when they come across as being heavily influenced by Yes, but Dave has a very different approach to the guitar than Steve Howe, and this combined with the less bombastic and more delicate keyboard playing from Andrew, and some lovely fretless bass from Shelby (who often stays far more in the background than one may imagine) means they very much have their own identity. I have been listening to Dave for more than 30 years, and he is one of those musicians who provides additional quality to any band he is playing with, and given I was already a fan of Circuline prior to hearing this I was smiling before this even hit the player. This is only their third studio album, and I certainly hope it is not as long to the next one as yet again Circuline have produced an album that lovers of Seventies prog will get a great deal from with luscious music and vocals throughout.