Circle - Sunrise

Ektro Records EKTRO-019. 2002

For the uninitiated, Circle are off their tits. You never quite know what you're going to get. It could be intense rock, prog, spacey twiddle a'la Acid Mothers Temple, stoner - I'm waiting for the gabba album.

First saw these guys supporting Acid Mothers Temple at the Cumberland Arms, Newcastle. I'd never heard of them. They blew me away, especially in the parts where Mika (vox) sat at the extra drum kit that was set up facing the drummer, and they played opposite each other, making some kind of tribal trance rock vibe. What I remember most clearly is the hefty, bearded bass player, who I swear played one repeated note for the entire gig with a great big shit-eating grin on his obviously stoned face. It was a fantastic gig, and though I rarely actively seek new Circle releases (as they seem to come every 3 days), I never resent parting with cash money for them.

This one is firmly in the hard prog space rock (hmm, that's a big vague isn't it?) section of their oeuvre, starting out all Hawkwind meets AC/DC and heading off from there, with the exception of the second track which defies description. I'll try though. All gentle plucked acoustic guitar with Mika doing some strange pixie-ish chattering over it. Can't help but smile.