Circulus (band)
English folk band
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Circulus are a psychedelic/progressive folk band from South London, England, founded by guitarist and singer Michael Tyack.
Circulus | |
|---|---|
 Circulus at Green Man Festival, 2017 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Labels |
|
| Members | Michael Tyack Jennifer Bennett Oliver Parfitt George Parfitt |
| Past members | Will Summers Lo Polidoro Sam Kelly Victor Hugo Eric Anholm Jason Hobart Emma Steele Robin Cieslak Tom Goldsmith Holly-Jane Shears Anthony Elvin Alan French Damien Cavanagh |
The band uses a mix of modern and medieval instruments, such as the lute, cittern, crumhorn and rauschpfeife, along with the Moog synthesizer, bass and electric guitars.
Circulus were featured in a two-page spread of an NME issue in 2005,[1] also appearing that year in a Sveriges Television music documentary called This Is Our Music in 2005.[2] They were interviewed on BBC2's The Culture Show on 3 February 2007, as part of an item on the 'new folk'.[3]
Mojo magazine chose Circulus to cover Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds for their 40th anniversary Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band tribute album, Sgt. Pepper... With a Little Help from His Friends, given away with their March 2007 issue.
The band performed on the 'Meltdown on the Thames' stage, at Meltdown Festival on 17 June 2007,[4] one week later playing on the Park Stage at Glastonbury Festival.[5] They performed at Green Man Festival in 2006[6] and 2017.[7]
In 2013, they provivded an original music soundtrack for the short film Eilmer The Flying Monk,[8] which is based on the story of Eilmer of Malmesbury. In 2014 their music was used in the soundtrack of the documentary The Truth Behind the Dash For Gas.[9]
Discography
EPs
- Giantism (1999, Instant Farma)
Albums
- The Lick on the Tip of an Envelope Yet to Be Sent (2005, Rise Above Records)
- Clocks Are Like People (2006, Rise Above Records)
- Thought Becomes Reality (2009, Mythical Cake)
- Birth (2018, Mythical Cake)
- Gate 47 (2018, Mythical Cake)
- Live at Dingwalls 2005 (2019, Mythical Cake)
Singles
- "Everyone" / "Ring o' Roses" / "Gently Johnny Pt 1" (1997, Instant Farma)
- "Little More Time" / "Happen Away" (1998, Instant Farma)
- "Wouldn't Dream of Sleeping Now" / "Same Way From the Sun" (2000, Instant Farma)
- "Swallow" / "My Body is Made of Sunlight" / "La Rotta°" (2005, Rise Above Records))
- "Song of Our Despair" / "Honeycomb" / "Tapestry°" (2006, Rise Above Records)
(° on CD version only)
Other releases
- Music Plays in the Air (on Get Yer Pots Out with the fanzine Ptolemaic Terrascope, 2001)
- Split 7" – Miri It Is (Moog-up Mix) by Circulus / Chylde of Fire by Witchcraft (2005, Rise Above Records)
- La Rotta (2005) (on The Crow Club compilation, 2008 People Tree Records)
- Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds (Mojo Presents Sgt. Pepper... With A Little Help From My Friends, 2007, Mojo Magazine)
- The Unquiet Grave (on Old Wine, New Skins compilation, 2007, Market Square Music)
- Till We Merry Meet Again (on A Psychedelic Guide to Monsterism Island compilation, 2009, Lo Recordings)
Releases with Circulus members
- Lo Polidoro – Lo Polidoro (2005)
- Lo Polidoro – Le Carrousel Des Jours (2009, Marboz Records)
- Marianne Segal – The Gathering (2007, Snow Beach Records) produced by Michael Tyack and featuring Circulus
- Thistletown – Rosemarie (2008, Big Bertha Records) produced by Michael Tyack
Band members
Current members
- Michael Tyack – vocals, guitars, saz, cittern
- Jenny Bliss Bennett – violin, viola da gamba, flute, vocals
- George Parfitt – bass guitar, drums, percussion
- Oliver Parfitt – keyboards, synthesizers
Former members
Mythical Cake label
In 2008, the band started its own record label, Mythical Cake, using donations solicited from fans and the public at large. A donation of 50 British pounds or more secured a photograph in the Thought Becomes Reality album liner notes. This alternative appeal is part of a growing trend of bands attempting to create a distribution infrastructure outside the traditional music industry.