Circle - Andexelt [tUMULt - 2006]Andexelt is often as cited been one of Circle's best albums, dating from 1999 and been out of print for sometime- here it's been reissued by San Francisco tUMULt label. So what's all the fuss about, well Circle stand as one of the great instrumental bands period, in any genre. This is a shining and hypnotic example of why, the tracks start of in fairly set manner, but before long sprout off all over the place adding new elements and twist to the sound. Their music hellishly difficult to categorise as each track wonderers all over the place within it's looped structure, different elements and genre traits are added at will. I guess you'd say mix of prog, krautrock, synth soundtrack music, jazz , dub elements, metal riffing and anything else they fancy really. The thing that sets Circle apart from so many other bands plying their trade in intresemental genres and over crowed post- rock genre. Is their ability to surprise from track to track, but also with in tracks. Nothing is ever set in stone, interesting and new elements appear within the hypnotic basic structure- making you not want the tracks to ever end.Your always waiting to see what else these musically Magician will pull out of the hat next. The other thing that sets them apart is they have the ability to weaving in different genres and musically colours with a smooth and perfect understanding of each genre they attempt. Prime examples can be found on every track but a few of my favourite moments are; odultept which starts off with a dark and tight rock cum funk riff, which the precedes to add dub undercurrents, Goblin like prog swirls of keyboard and atmospheric flute. Each new element drifts in perfectly and seamlessly before moving on to the next, making it very rich in cinematic and emotion drama. Humussaar finds mysteries snake charmer like guitar work feed against rich bass and drum background with layers of percussive matter, then slowly they weaving in creepy ghost house church organ synth work. Giving the track a feeling of been a soundtrack to some middle eastern horror film, with a spy edge and a big old decaying gothic haunted house in the middle of a desert.Though out Circle stretch and bend ones imagination, making scene and situations that seem wholly in plausible and illogic normal, become possible in ones minds eye. This truly is music for fertile imaginations. Recommend with out doubt, no matter what your musical kick is. Rich, inventive and always suprising music played by top glass musically force with depth and colour. Really unmissble on every level. Roger Batty
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