Circu5 - 2025 - Clockwork Tulpa

(44:40; ST Productions)






















Track list:
1. Make No Sound 4:17
2. Sing Now 4:00
3. Freakshow Train 4:36
4. Skin Machine 4:25
5. Infinite Lucid Geometric Fever Dream 5:40
6. Clockwork Tulpa 2:52
7. Violet 3:48
8. Change the Weather 3:19
9. Don't Spare Me 6:12
10. Scars 5:31

Line-up:
Steve Tilling - vocals, guitars, keyboards
Mark Kilminster - bass, vocals
Lee Moulding - drums, percussion, vocals


Prolusion.
UK band Circu5 has been a project in development for a bit more than a decade at this point from what I can see, with their Facebook page launched as far back as 2011. They released their initial album "Circu5" back in 2017, with the band at that point being more or less a strict one man venture with guest musicians. Since then this venture has developed into more of a proper band unit, and now they are out with their second studio album  "Clockwork Tulpa", released through the label ST Productions.

Analysis.
If the association is correct or not, the first thought that struck my mind when seeing the title of this album was that good, old Rush did release an album called "Clockwork Angels" some years back. And while that slight similarity in terms of choosing a name for an album may well be accidental, Rush is a band I do come back to when my associations flow as I inspect this creation.

Not because Cirecu5 sounds all that much like the aforementioned Canadian threesome, but rather because their take on progressive rock is one that comes with quite a few similar features. The band appear to be fond of arrangements and an expression inside of the hard progressive rock spectrum for starters. The bass and drums are a firm and steady presence, and the guitar sound is hard and firm first and delivering more careful details second. With many of the compositions being both energetic and spirited affairs to boot. That a majority of the songs comes across as accessible affairs with recurring flirts with the melodic rock spectrum alongside quirky and more expressive instrument details also fits the bill as far as such associations go. Especially for the latter parts of the Rush back catalogue.

Circu5 does take a different approach to their core compositions as well as the execution of their works however. The sound and expression is a more contemporary oriented one, and the guitar is the star of the show while the keyboards have more of a subtle and less audible support role. Many of the songs make use of start and stop dynamics and staccato patterns too, with some hard, funky guitar licks and riffs given outings. The very distinctly melodic vocals also adds another and a different dimension to the landscapes explored here, with the vocals often functioning as an instrument in it's own right with a flow and momentum that strikes me as a vital part of the totality in itself rather than merely being a very pleasant and compelling manner in which to deliver the lyrics. There's also a little bit of an indie and alternative rock vibe going on here, in a 1990s kind of manner, with an occasional subtle undercurrent that reminds me ever so slightly about 80s post punk to boot.

The songs are very well developed affairs, each of them compelling and most of them due to slightly different reasons than for the other songs at hand, and the mix and production is to my mind excellent in clarity and balance, managing to bring out the best from the compositions themselves as well as from the artists performing them. Rock solid is an expression I find rather apt to use for this album.

Conclusion.
Those who tend to be fond of a more accessible and compelling variety of hard progressive rock will find plenty to enjoy on this second album by Circu5. With a little bit of Rush here, possibly some tendencies from King's X there, with what may or may not be details pulled from bands such as Radiohead and Blur that add some further seasoning into this tasteful stew. With a vibrant and energetic sound combined with flow, melodies, harmonies and tasteful quirky instrument details, this is a production that brings a lot of good stuff to the table in a most solid and compelling manner.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, March 2025

Links:
https://www.circu5.com/

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