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 Circle - Miljard [Ektro Records - 2006]Miljard finds Circle once more tattling a different set of musical genres. But this time in a more ambient, modern classical frame work, as with there other work they pull it off floorless, fitting there identity into each chosen genre with such depth of sound understanding, and ear for composition. Giving us a double album of slowly moving, sometimes dense, sometimes fragile, musical moments to get lost in. Piano and percussive matter - be it traditional forms of odd erratic tapings of instrumentation,come to the front here. With elements of deep felt bass, guitar flecks of sound, all manner of discreet electronics and eerier samples. Their repetitive groove locked sound and track construction is still present, but for the most part refocused on more haunted and atmospheric climes ,than more traditional rock elements of some of their other work. You can hear traces of Steve Reich’s work, Brian Eno, the blues, country music, stripped down jazz- but all with a very distinctive Circle edge and vision. The album is nicely split in two- the first disk highlights more difined piano structures. The second disk moving more towards the smudging and merger of instrumental sound haze ,with sample dusting that appear like haunted faces from the Connor and edges of the composition. More than ever this highlights the bands ability for atmospheric and really awe inspiring mood music. Favourites of hard-as-hell to choose as your favourite track more often than not will be the one you’ll be playing at the time. But if forced I’d say the slow unfolding midnight corridor jazz of Duunila, with it’s low down and grimy back ground bass mutterings and guitar settlings, all giveing the feeling of morbid anticipations, you can almost picture hunched 1930’s gangster with cigar smoke sliding slowly from their lips, as a nervous bar tender constant cleans up their drink spillages, the morning first light just weeping in though dust smudged windows. B.F.F. with its playful paino, guitar and percussive dance. It comes across as been both nervous , and at the same time deeply elegant like a ballet dancer performing for the first time on stage in front of a lager crowd. Corelia is slow autumn rain drops of piano, licked by alien synth bubble, haunting bird call, that almost brings you to tears with it's emotional depth. As a certain well know brand of beer Advertising slogan went about there beer been 'possible the best beer in the world'. You can say the same for Circle but there little need for the word 'possbile'. With out doubt one of the most breathtaking and all consuming records of the year, and one that races to the top of my end of year list. To buy direct go to here.   Roger Batty
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|  | | Circle - Miljard | Miljard finds Circle once more tattling a different set of musical genres. But this time in a more ambient, modern classical frame work, as with there other ...
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