Is there a new folk music boom on the way? Suddenly the stuff seems to be everywhere. After the recent reissues of bits of JETHRO TULL's back catalogue, old and forgotten obscurities by the likes of COMUS and TREES and PAUL GIOVANNI's excellent score to cult horror movie classic "The Wicker Man" we now have this odd British bunch who actually play the stuff.

Don't let the fact that this is released on the Rise Above label fool you. No heavy guitars or droning doom dirges to be found here, but lots of lutes, flutes and other instruments I don't know the name of. Not exactly headbanging stuff. A nice little hop around the maypole would be more appropriate to the sounds on this record. Think FAIRPORT CONVENTION, early JETHRO TULL and THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND and you'll get an idea of CIRCULUS' sound. None of it is as good as the best works of those bands, but other than that I can't help digging this album a lot. It's fun! Actually I can't helping thinking it's a bit too funny at times. Besides that ridiculous album title they also have song titles such as "My Body Is Made Of Sunlight" and "Power To The Pixies". And on top of that they manage to look even more idiotic than early JETHRO TULL when they dressed up as a bunch of imps! On the other hand, in one of the songs they do sing "if we don't believe in fantasy, we are lost" and personally I think they do have a point so let's put all cynicism aside and concentrate on the song material. And I have to say, after a few listens the songs on this record, with their catchy arrangements and pretty vocal melodies are downright irresistible. You must have a heart of stone if you're not swept away by the beautiful "Swallow", my personal favorite here. It's certainly not an album for everyone though. If you can't get past album opener "Miri It Is" just give up. Personally I think this is the best medieval folk rock album I've heard all year. Considering the competition that may not be much of an achievement but still.

- Van Hoften

OFFICIAL SITE: www.circulus.org

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