First off, I know it might be a little late, but this album just can't seem to leave my player. There are not many bands that can fuse riff-based material with complex textures and strange ambient atmospheres. But I have to hand it to
The Tea Party; they really churn out multi faceted riffs and melodies, in a way that is so rarely heard, if heard at all in that manner at all. This Canadian trio literally bridges the gap between King's X and Porcupine Tree. Does that sound impossible, shit no! It is as if the take the hard rocking structure of a, well, rock band, that plays their own blistering bombastic crunch and bringing in a second musical element of electronic noises/keyboard soundscapes that compliment the initial riffs that music possesses.
You can't get more riffage insanity than you can with "
Writing's on the Wall," the choppy "
One Step Closer Away," "
Overload" or "
Empty Glass." Frontman/Guitarist Jeff Martin puts his six string chops and soul power baritone vocals to full fury on those cuts. In many cases you have these key changes that are just astounding the way they work, and they don't abuse that technical approach like many prog bands do, it's like the music literally scares you with its sophistication.
Then again, the band does show pop sensibility ala Kevin Gilbert/Toy Matinee and Kino via tracks such as "
Wishing You Would Stay," "
Coming Back Again," the spaced out "
Stargazer," and the title track where the hooks and catchiness are in full throttle. Seven Circles is a record that treads the line of technical rock similar to the way late period
Rush albums do, they literally have their own sound; taking risks that what most mainstream bands (and record companies) would be to "dangerous." Well as we listen to mainstream radio, that attitude sure pays off, doesn't it (fuck 'em); well let those bands continue to live in IPODs for a month or two.
The final word is that
The Tea Party unfortunately have decided to call it a day after fifteen years, right off the heals of this record (why?????). You don't hear any weakness on the record or anything that might connotate that a split might have been imminent. However the eerie titles of songs such as "Empty Glass," "Writing's on the Wall," and "One Step Closer Away" might seem like prophecies, but I doubt it. Sadly, this band never received its just deserts in the states like it should have. It is almost as if their music could has been timeless throughout all the musical changes that have happened over the years; regardless of exposure. But for beginners or loyals, they do have an extensive back catalog to enjoy. Seven Circles is one way a career should be capped. I just hate that it was capped.
The European version of this album features live studio performances and footage.
Written by
Hashman Monday, February 6, 2006
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