Circulus - The Lick on the Tip of an Envelope Yet to be Sent
It’s been a long time since I heard an album that could eventually end up as a 13 or higher, but this, apparently debut, release by this young English outfit definitely qualifies. Starting with the acid folk sound as found on albums like Emtidi’s Saat or any Trees or Spirogyra albums, Circulus are one of the most authentic sounding 70s bands I’ve heard in some time. But they don’t stick to the folk sound. Liberally applied through the album are sections of keyboard-led psych or progressive rock, adding the necessary contrast to ensure that all of the cauldron’s ingredients can still be tasted when the brew was finished. Everything is here, multiple vocals both male and female, guitar, saz, cittern, harmonium, scads of keyboards and synths, bongos, flutes and more. The aesthetic coloring of the overall result is very rich, and all the elements seem judiciously balanced. Been a while since I was excited over a new band, but this group of mushroom trippers had gone and resurrected the spirit of the original progressive rock movement by fusing together many of its threads. The gorgeous artwork and commune-style photographs really wrap this up nicely. Why it took a metal label to put this out is anyone’s guess.