Prog Rock Review: Circuline-Circulive New View

Release Date: October 9, 2020

Label: Circuline Music

Website

Prog Stock 2017 was attended by actual people, how different? Things that were normal every day things have changed in the new norm. I usually attend at least 5 concerts a year and I went to one just before the virus spread like wildfire.

Circulive New View just came out this month. I covered Circuline-Circulive::Majestik DVD in 2018. That was an excellent prog-rock experience so I anticipate the same with the new release and was not disappointed.

The band Circuline is a prog-rock band out of New York that is no stranger to the stage. Circuline is Andrew Colyer (keyboards, vocals), Darin Brannon (drums, percussion), Alek Darson (guitars), Joel Simches (bass), and lead vocalists Billy Spillane and Natalie Brown.

Their performance at the festival was captured on a magnificent Blu-ray and DVD. This is a 3-disc set including a CD so all formats are covered for thirteen tracks offered on this superb audio-visual experience. There also bonus features with official videos, tour posters, images, and more.

Circuline members are polished professionals and bring a very entertaining show to the stage. Their music is distinctively prog-rock with an in-sync rhythm section, two incredibly talented vocalists, a guitar player suited to play through all the many changes one song can go through, and of course the amazing Andrew Colyer on keyboards. Andrew is recognized for his accomplishments but not on the level he should be. Based on what I have heard over the last few years, he ranks right up there with some of the best and most tasteful players active today.

Coming in under the wire in the prog world is nothing new because it refuses to go mainstream. Fans such as myself and thousands more are grateful for that and thank them for staying true to themselves and the music. That is something that is accepted going into this type of music and the music remains the most important factor, endearing fans of all ages to their work. This set is a document to the excellence of Circuline as a functioning musical unit without exception.

The two performances I enjoyed the most were the “Piano Challenge” on track #5 and “The Forbidden Planet + Drum Feature” on track 10. The drum performance was quite entertaining as everyone on stage was playing some sort of percussion. They all were in sync as well, which is not an easy task, especially if it is not your primary instrument.

The bonus you get has two choices of viewing for the video and then the soundtrack on CD for strictly the audio experience. Also, something interesting is the option of watching the video to a band commentary, however, I would recommend watching just the concert first then the commentary version to see what they all have to say about the performance.

Circulive New View is the complete audio and visual experience you could have. Excellent musicianship is the most important factor and that is what makes everything else the icing on the cake.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Prog Rock Music Talk Founder
October 24, 2020

Track List:
01. Intro / Erosion (Live)        
02. Soleil Noir (Live)        
03. One Wish (Live)    
04. Nautilus (Live)    
05. Piano Challenge (Live)    
06. Hollow (Live)    
07. Return (Acoustic) [Live}        
08. Fallout Shelter (Live)    
09. Pale Blue Dot (Live)    
10. Forbidden Planet / Drum Feature (Live)    
11. Inception (Live)    
12. Summit (Live)        
13. Stereotypes (Live)

Prog Rock Review: Lighthouse Sparrows-The Deep End

Release Date: August 4,2020

Label: Samsara Records

Website

Back in 2019 in Finland, guitarist Sami Sarhamaa and his colleague, Olli Huhtanen, a sound engineer, made the move from talking about music to actually making the music. Surprisingly quickly they had 5 tracks completed and a mini album, The Deep End was released.

In effect, Olli produces the basics of the track and Sami adds things to his liking and they decided that rather than aim to produce prog rock, art rock or whatever, they would simply “go with the flow” of what they produced.

The onset of Covid – 19 lockdowns meant that time to finalize these 5 tracks became available. Via the internet, the two friends, working in their own studios, collaborated with other musicians, namely Miri Miettinen (drums) and Trio Tingo (backing vocals). This ultimately resulted in The Deep End being released at the beginning of August.

The Deep End is a 5 track mini album with a total running time of just over 30 minutes (30:11) with track 3, “Shallow End” being the shortest at 4:45 minutes and the final track, “Gravity” the longest with a playing time in excess of 7:00 minutes (7:11).

The opening track “Gravest Danger” (6:17) starts with a great guitar riff which falls away to a gentler scenario before the crystal-clear vocals enter. The track slowly builds in intensity and the gentle guitar passages are sublime. Around the halfway point the track has an excellent synth theme before the guitar sets down another excellent passage and ushers in the vocals again. Another excellent passage builds with the musicians showing their skills before the sound drops away to end with a solo piano motif. This track has certainly been successful in getting the listeners interest and for relative newcomers, this has been an excellent taster for the 4 tracks still to come.

Track 2, “Scales” (7:00) carries on from the opening track with more excellent vocals and superb guitar riffs. After 4 minutes, the track takes a different direction with some exquisite piano and synth passages, prior to the vocals appearing. Only 2 tracks in and this release is looking like a stunning debut for Lighthouse Sparrows.

The third track, “Shallow End” (4:46) continues the good work with a much more laidback feel, which highlights another facet of the band. The vocals sound very relaxed but can “roughen up” when required. Synth passages carry the track on with sudden seamless changes in tempo and a guitar passage with a little more “punch” takes the track to its finale.

The last 2 tracks, “Deep End” and “Gravity,” (4:57 and 7:11 respectively), continue to impress to the listener, bearing in mind that this release is a debut mini album. Synths, great drum and bass from the engine room, excellent vocals and stunning guitar passages. The range of the band over the 5 tracks on offer is exceptional.

The Deep End is an amazing debut and gives the listener the perception of a band that has been playing and recording for a long time as the band just exudes confidence in what they do. I have no hesitation in suggesting that this mini album would be money well spent and I look forward, in anticipation, to where Lighthouse Sparrows go from this point.

Jim “The Ancient One” Lawson – Prog Rock Music Talk Staff.
October 10, 2020

Tracks:
1. Gravest Danger (6:17)
2. Scales (7:00)
3. Shallow End (4:46)
4. Deep End (4.57)
5. Gravity (7:11)