Artist.......: Ghost Circus
Album........: Cycles
Label........: Progrock Records
Genre........: Progressive Rock
Catnr........: n/a
source.......: CDDA
rip.date.....: Sep-26-2006
str.date.....: 000-00-0000
quality......: VBR/44,1Hz/Joint-Stereo
Url..........: n/a
track title time
01. Broken Glass 04:24
02. Cycles 05:38
03. Trick of The Light 09:44
04. The Distance 05:56
05. Accelerate 06:10
06. Let it Flow 04:53
07. Send/Return 07:57
08. Mass Suggestion Pt 1 07:32
09. Mass Suggestion Pt 2 03:46
Runtime 56:00 min
Size 86,9 MB
Release Notes:
A chance meeting of artists in 2004 on an internet
message board brought together Ronald Wahle of the
Netherlands with Chris Brown of Tennessee. What
spawned from that meeting is the highly evolved
progressive rock duo, Ghost Circus. Two years of
collaboration culminates in the duo's first album,
æCyclesÆ, which highlights a detailed look at
modern society as well as personal introspective
struggles.
Italian review
ProgRock Records has done a remarkable job bringing
underground progressive rock projects such as Ghost
Circus to hungry listeners yearning for new sounds.
Made up of the duo of Chris Brown (vocals, guitars,
bass, keyboards) and Ronald Wahle (drums,
percussion, keyboards, guitars), from Tennessee and
The Netherlands respectably, this is a long
distance musical collaboration that really works on
all fronts. Fusing elements of prog rock, AOR, and
progressive metal, Ghost Circus have put together
nine tracks here on Cycles that are instantly
memorable, with catchy vocal harmonies from Brown,
plenty of stinging guitar leads, lush keyboards,
and tight rhythms. Tunes like the groove-laden
title track, the Genesis inspired "Trick of the
Light", the hint of Fish on "The Distance", the
crunchy & complex prog-metal instrumental
"Send/Return", and the two part epic "Mass
Suggestion" all are highlights of this very
listenable and enjoyable CD. Considering that these
two musicians put this album together while both
being on opposite parts of the globe is really
quite impressive. Way to go guys!
... the title track kicks in next, pulsing with
energy and determination, and propelling the rest
of the album to a higher plane. ôTrick of the
Lightö echoes the moodier sides of late-period
Genesis, the instrumental ôSend/Returnö could have
been in Dream TheaterÆs vaults, and the epic ôMass
Suggestionö ebbs and flows across two lengthy
parts. Pristine production and elegant packaging
add to the enjoyment of Cycles. Touring this record
might be virtually impossible, although both
musicians have proven that distance isn't a
detriment. I'm adding a half-star in the hopes that
Brown and Wahle can continue to survive this
long-distance relationship à
...When it comes to the more æprogressiveÆ tracks,
ôMass Suggestion: Parts 1 & 2ö sums up the musical
prowess for which the musicianship that takes
center stage, but yet that is built around the
æsongÆ instead of some wild improvisation. So yeah,
Cycles really does have that classic æ120 MinutesÆ
sound to it, but yet many who have heard the record
so far are digging it as a progressive rock record
and something more than that, proving that the
album has the potential to reach an audience beyond
the NEARfest & ProgPower crowds (but trust me, they
would make an excellent addition to both festivalÆs
lineups); there is something for everybody here;
well, let me rephrase that, there is a lot for
everybody here, and when these guys come to your
town and play, youÆd better get up out of your seat
and move to the music, well, you wonÆt be able to
resist. Again, Ghost Circus proves that in this day
and age, you donÆt have to have a Mellotron, you
donÆt have to play your songs in 7/18, you donÆt
have to have an eighteen minute song, you donÆt
have to be a Flower Kings or SpockÆs Beard clone,
and you donÆt have to long drawn out ethereal
compositions to be coined æprogressive.Æ..