Circu5 - 2025 - Clockwork Tulpa
(44:40; ST Productions)
When I reviewed the debut album by CIRCU5 I bemoaned the fact it took five years for Steve Tilling to record it and that he needed to get his act together for the next one. I am so glad he listened to me as this one only took eight…OK, so he has been busy on other projects such as XTC-related projects TC&I and EXTC as well as writing the theme music for a John Lennon documentary, plus there was a pandemic where he got really sick, but at long last it is here. This time around we actually have a band, as while Steve provides lead vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards he has also been joined by Mark Kilminster (Tin Spirits) on bass guitar and backing vocals and Lee Moulding (son of XTC legend Colin) on drums, percussion, and backing vocals.
Yet again I find myself having to mention the presentation as what we have here is a CD-sized hardback book, with the disc inside the front cover, glossy pages of photos with the lyrics and details of musicians etc. This is what we also got with the debut, all this from an independent band which is not signed to a major label but instead wants to produce something which is worthy and memorable. For those who have not heard the debut, that one is a concept detailing the life of a child, Grady, raised as a psychopath in a secret government organisation, which aims to cure the condition, while harnessing positive traits for certain roles. The character discovers the truth as a dysfunctional adult – with catastrophic consequences. By the time of the second album he has become a wind-up toy for a cult and has joined a group of freaks who are determined to bring down the CIRCU5 organisation.
The debut was very broad in its musical outlook, whereas this is far more direct – highly melodic, punchy, exciting, vibrant and accessible. It really is one of those albums that takes the listener back in time, when we used to play music as an end to itself and read the lyrics while playing the album, and that is just what one needs to do here. True, it can be played in the background (as can anything), but this deserves to be played when one needs to be taken on a musical and lyrical adventure. There does feel to be a lot of the classic jagged melodic hooks of XTC in here, but being pushed far more into a progressive indie rock direction as opposed to pop, and Tim and Lee have had a major impact on the overall sound as the rhythm section is incredibly dynamic which has allowed Steve to concentrate on the rest.
The result is an album which like is a blast of fresh air blasting through the stagnant world of pop, showing it is possible to have great hooks and melodies combined in something world instead of being recycled plastic time and again. Steve has said he has always seen the Grady story as a trilogy, but I really do hope he manages to reduce the time taken to produce the albums as I am already in my sixties and I would really like to hear more. Yet another stunning release which is British to its very core.
Kev Rowland, July 2025
Links:
https://www.circu5.com/
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