Inner Nova Music [Release date 20.09.24]
There’s nothing quite like a bit of old school schmoozing. Circuline have, let’s say, a certain maturity of years (their bassist Shelby excluded) and – therefore – a maturity of outlook. Old timers like ourselves welcome such “core” values and all wrapped up in a nice digi-pak, a decent press release and…a coaster!
Described as “modern cinematic rock”, the band’s secret weapon might be old stager Dave Bainbridge who has more recently cropped up playing with Lifesigns and The Strawbs although many will recall ace Celtic proggers Iona.
Combined with his other super muso companions, C.O.R.E. demands your attention. The band – in various configurations – have won awards or nominations since their inception in 2014 and are regulars on the international prog festival circuit.
They seem to freely co-opt other musicians for their projects and this time round Joe Deninzon (Kansas) on violin supplements the “core” line-up for one track, ‘Transmission Error’. Progmeister Robert Berry (“3″ with Keith Emerson) does the mixing.
The advanced track that caught our attention – and the album standout – is ‘All’ and is a very good example of the band’s musicality. A sense of real propulsion, great keyboard (Andrew Colyer) and guitar interplay and evoking prime-time proggers such as bands like Yes and, more recently, Spock’s Beard.
It’s a great shame that this track’s sense of purpose is not repeated. The end section in particular is quite wonderful. Why can’t bands wig out more often? Get the keytar out for chrissakes!!
The opener ‘Tempus Horribilis’ might actually be off-putting, essentially a nice groove that’s broken by spoken word (is that really H.R.H.The Queen?) and other vocal effects (courtesy of Colyer and main vocalist/lyricist Natalie Brown). Even morphing into semi-Camel territory doesn’t help this one.
Ditto “You’ which introduces similarly strange (Goth) vocals over another interesting ground. It sounds like the band really wants to rock out but it never really happens, preferring the chanted melodies and “sound design” to anything more purposeful.
‘Third Rail’ immediately brings to mind Renaissance, circa ‘Ashes Are Burning’-era, whilst ‘Say Their Name’ continues that comparison until it degenerates into a fusion breakdown. Elsewhere ‘Temporal Thing’ also has a jazz rock thing going on.
‘Blindside’ is a little more conventional, fronted by Colyer’s vocal and a pleasing and plaintive Bainbridge solo ushering in some Clare Torry-style hollering (from Natalie, not Andrew!).
It’s certainly an interesting pot-pourri of prog but the album’s range and reference points might be its weakness. Nevertheless, this should be filed next to another great slice of recent modern prog – Teramaze – although Circuline eschews the metal element.
By the way C.O.R.E. apparently stands for Circuline/ Original/ Reimagined/ Evolving. An alternative might be Cerebral/Old school/Recycled/Eclectic.
It’s certainly nudging four stars but, for this reviewer, it’s really a case of “All” or nothing. ***1/2
Review by David Randall
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RHABSTALLION Going Nowhere (indie)
THE MERCURY RIOTS LA Girls (indie)
RENDEZVOUS POINT Presence (Long Branch Records)
MINE ROAD Tightrope (indie)
SAINT TRAGEDY Asking For A Ghost (indie)
THE HOME TEAM Walk This World With Me (Thriller Records)
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09:00-12:00 ATLANTIS DRIVE (Pride & Joy Music)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
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