Review - Circle of Wills
"The Manual of Internal Fixation"
album on Spaced Out Sounds
through MGM with Australian Music Business
Through the last week I’ve been listening to three records: two EPs from Adelaide and one from Sydney. It has been the latter that has stood out from them: due mainly to there being 14 tracks on this CD and 8 on the other two combined, but also because of the diversity explored by the band that will be known to many as Circle of Willis.
Described in their own press as “Sydney’s most off the wall musical act,” they tell us that “The Manual of Internal Fixation” (referring, probably, to an early do-it-yourself surgery book as suggested by the cover-art) pioneers a new sound that, combining aspects of The Avalanches and Moby, they call Alternative Gospel Space Funk. Whatever they call it, it certainly brings attention to itself when heard both in and out of context with the rest of the album.
Moving from the aforementioned Hieronymus Bosch sleeve art, through songs like Wrong Answer on Family Feud and samples from Rolf Harris and Walt Disney, you get the idea that these guys don’t take themselves too seriously. But serious they are, with the support of Stephen (Amanda Easton, Rebecca Rennie) Green, MGM and “bowling alleys, (and) countless RSL clubs across this wide land.”
And when you get through the comic relief, you will find some great tunes. Excellent tunes, in fact: my normal habit of scanning for stand-outs was abandoned in favour of repetitive listening; if I had to probably the likes of Scat Man, fathergod, Hijack, Turn The Lights On would be chosen (that choice was changed often enough through the rough-draft)!
Unfortunately neither radio in Australia nor the regular
listening public isn’t adventurous enough to think about playing these guys
(outside maybe Triple J or community /
public radio), but the Icehousesque parts might prick some
ears up. Prove me wrong by checking out or requesting Circle of Willis “The Manual of Internal Fixation” on MGM
with Australian Music Business. What are you talkin’ ‘bout, Willis!? ęę
ęę