Top Bar
Musique Machine Logo Home ButtonReviews ButtonArticles ButtonBand Specials ButtonAbout Us Button
SearchGo Down
Search for  
With search mode in section(s)
And sort the results by
show articles written by  
 Review archive:  # a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Circle - Hollywood [Ektro Records - 2008]

Hollywood finds Circle once more shifting their sound into new genres & stringing into their instantly recognisable hypnotic riff presence a very 1980’s USA bound feel with: harmony led pop rock, geeky new wave airs, 80’s heavy metal- long with the traces of the blues & country too.

This is certainly is the most approachable and less odd sounding album of Circle’s prolific career thus far- with normal song length and traditional verse/ chorus base to many of the songs here. There’s also a lot more vocals  through-out the album with new lead singer Bruce Duff vocals going from 80’s fist punching metal, to harmonic and raising pop-rock, to taut and country rock. With often a fair glossing of harmonies too in the tracks edger’s too. But that’s not to say the band have total moved away from their often hypotonic and circling kraut rock sound- it’s still there with-in the songs it’s just placed in a more richer, smoother, often sleek  ‘normal’ song backing. The two last tracks move more towards the Circle of old lasting just over 10 minutes  mark each and are built around more repetitive guitar riffs and keyboard/ organ riffs; but even so the tracks are mostly kept fairly shifting with the band building an Progressive and rich flow to the tracks.

 
Another rewarding album and phase in the bands always shifting sound. With Hollywood certainly making a superb and easy first step into Circle’s world for newbie’s. My only criticism of the whole thing is at times,because of its more approachable and traditional song structure, it lacks the danger, un-predictability and odd edger’s of their best work.

Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5

Roger Batty
Latest Reviews

Circle - Hollywood
Hollywood finds Circle once more shifting their sound into new genres & stringing into their instantly recognisable hypnotic riff presence a very 19...
061225   Split Apex - Thoughts in 3D
051225   Heretic - Breaking Point
051225   Abscess - Though The Cracks O...
051225   Koobaatoo Asparagus - Between...
041225   Whore’s Breath - Precipitat...
041225   Lord Cernunnos / doublepeace ...
041225   PINK WOOL - Nightsweater
041225   Dracula - Dracula(VOD)
041225   The Ominous Circle - Cloven ...
041225   A Hyena In The Safe - A Hyena...
Latest Articles

The Spectral Sounds of The Projec...
As music obsessives know, what makes a label fascinating is not just the sounds they release. The most intriguing labels offer a conceptual framework and con...
041225   The Spectral Sounds of The Pr...
281025   Michael Hurst Interview - Unb...
071025   Xiphos - The Rise And Fall Of...
030925   Third Window Films - A Label ...
130825   HNW fest- Barcelona- 12th Apr...
250725   Raté interview - Walled-in F...
180625   Matthew Holmes - Of razor-sha...
280525   The Residents - Visits From T...
090525   Ennaytch - Of walls, abused ...
150425   Dead, Dead Swans interview - ...
Go Up
(c) Musique Machine 2001 -2025. Twenty four years of true independence!! Mail Us at questions=at=musiquemachine=dot=comBottom