Artist:Circulatory System
“Overjoyed” (mp3)
Release: “Signal Morning”
Label: Cloud Recordings
UPC: 656605651026
Genre: Psychedelic Rock : Avantgarde/Experimental
Release Date: 9/29/09
More On This Album
An exploration into the possibilities of sound manipulation, multi track recording, and mashing musical styles, Circulatory System’s second full length album, Signal Morning showcases the best parts of Elephant 6 that over time have come to set apart the collective from the masses as musical giants. Formed from the ashes of the legendary Olivia Tremor Control (arguably one of the most noteworthy projects to derive from the Athens, Georgia group of musicians including Of Montreal, The Apples in stereo, and Neutral Milk Hotel), Circulatory System inherited most of Olivia’s players including E6 heavy hitters Will Cullen Hart and Derek Almstead. The new group has a great psychedelic, fuzzy, pop-laced sound that lands them right in the middle of E6 territory. Fans of the collective will love the album and those unfamiliar with their work should definitely pick it up for a great introduction.
Throughout the album, Cullen Hart hints at his total capacity to create simple and super catchy pop songs but denies the listener indulgence into this mastery, electing instead to create moments of indie-pop joy like the 24-second “News From The Heavenly Loop” which could have easily developed into a college-radio topper but instead feeds into the fuzzy, energetic “Round Again.” Also due to partially cult-like wailing and chanting with looping tribal drum patterns, listening to the record you feel as if you’ve snuck in on a private ceremony; the E6 collective let’s you in through a back door to see what it’s like inside their mystic world. Interestingly, Circulatory System is one of the only Elephant 6 bands to have featured Neutral Milk Hotel’s hermetic mastermind Jeff Mangum on their records. For Signal Morning he is credited as a drummer and he also contributed to their self-titled debut as well as briefly playing on tour with the group. This is definitely noteworthy as Mangum is a genuinely talented musical genius and unfortunately also a genuine recluse, rarely appearing after his 1998 landmark album In The Aeroplane Over The Sea thrust him suddenly into the spotlight and consequently caused him to disband NMH after only a single tour. Other E6 greats involved include The Apples in stereo’s Rob Schneider on production (truly his forte), and former Neutral Milk’er Julian Koster. The gang’s all here and the result is a fabulous and original record.
Circulatory System proves that Elephant 6 is still going strong and producing some of the finest alternative music around today.
Circulatory System
“Round Again” (mp3)
from “Signal Morning”
(Cloud Recordings)
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Tags: Circulatory System, Elephant 6
