CD Review: Azure Circle
Virtuosity
Azure Circle's first CD (self titled) has been one of the most satisfying purchases I've made this year. Clearly progressive rock, this will appeal to fans of Yes, and other prog artists of that ilk. The influence from Yes is unmistakable, but they're not a Yes clone. Great musicianship. I found my initial perception was that the songs were excellent and no player stood out, apart from solos. The more I listen, the more I hear some great individual playing, but they're performing in service to the music overall. This reminds me Salem Hill's Sweet Hope Suite, where the music just seems to become more than the sum of it's parts and the parts all seem to serve the music. Lyrically, Azure Circle writes from a decidedly Christian perspective. Their lyrics are worshipful and contemplative.
Spiritual Progressive Rock Band Reviews
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Artist description
Being mainly a "live" band, Azure Circle was born of the lofty desire to create greater music than what its individual musicians could contribute. Each Azure Circle musician would agree the compositions couldn't have been completed without the unique contributions of every member, but, also, those songs couldn't have been created by a single member, alone. Challenged to compose interesting, melodic and positive music, a recording became a distant, forseeable vision and then a fortunate realization after four patient years. Still a young group, Azure Circle members were mostly in college at the time this first recording began, and all participated primarily for the love of the genre of "progressive rock," which seems to have become something of a lost (and quite possibly archaic) art. But we like it! Hopefully, you will too!
Music style
Spiritual / Progressive Rock
Musical influences
Progressive or "Prog" rock, spiritual rock, Yes, Genesis, Rush, Sting, Allan Holdsworth, Bach, The Beatles and John Williams.
Similar Artists
Possibly early-70's Genesis would closely represent the spirit of our music, though Yes remains a solid inspiration. Progressive rock and spiritual rock would be the closest connection.
Artist history
Inspired by prog-rock bands of the 70's, Azure Circle formed in Sacramento, CA in 1994 to pursue the composition and performance of original spiritual, progressive and melodic music. Being somewhat distrustful of the promises made by a certain record-industry scout, the young and eclectic members of Azure Circle decided to produce an album in their own fashion, whenever possible, if possible and if fate dictated. Apparently, fate did decide that "Azure Circle" be finished, finally! The band recently performed in May, 2000 in Carmichael to dedicate the completion of the album, a four-year off-and-on project.
Group members
Dave Baxley: keyboards; Jay Leek: bass and vocals; Forest Muther: drums; Chris Studer, lead vocals; and Mark Studer: guitar and vocals.
Instruments
Keyboards, bass, drums, guitar and vocals.
Albums
Azure Circle
Track List:
1. In Sight of your eyes
2. Searching
3. Never Fails
4. Always
5. I Am
6. Circle
7. The Ground Around Me
8. Siren Song
Suggested CDs:
Other Genres:
