Description

Rare private pressing

Norwegian band Circles End was first formed in 1994 under the name Venture. Later, the band’s name was changed to Plethora when they played their first gig in 1996. The definitive change of the name to Circles End happened a few months afterwards, when the band started writing new material in the hope of recording an album. With the help of a guest keyboardist, inthe summer of 98 the band booked a local studio and recorded five of their own songs, which became their first, self-titled EP, released in August 98. After recording a demo tape in 1999, the band – with a new singer and a new bassist on board, and help from a different guest keyboardist – started writing an album’s worth of new material. Their first album, In Dialogue with the Moon, was released independently at the beginning of 2001, to remarkable critical acclaim on the prog rock scene. In the following couple of years Circles End underwent other personnel changes before they stabilised their line-up and started recording material for their following album. A 7″ single from the album, containing the songs Echoes and Longshot was released and it got the attention of the Bergen-based record company Karisma. The band signed with Karisma and released the full album from which the single had originated from. It came in 2004 and was called Hang On To That Kite. Circles End effectively blend jazz-fusion elements and influences from such bands as King Crimson, Rush and fellow Scandinavians Anekdoten. It all comes together nicely in the A-side track Echoes. This band has a very fresh, original sound, blending different influences without any loss of individuality. They are certainly one of the best contemporary prog bands to have come out of Scandinavia, and their music deserves to be more widely known.

Track listing:
1. Echoes
2. Long Shot