Circa Survive
Two Dreams – Rise Records
It’s always sad when a band go on a hiatus, especially a band as groundbreaking as Pennsylvania’s Circa Survive. For nigh on two decades, they’ve been pushing at genre boundaries and their unique fusion of progressive rock and emo won the hearts and minds of a whole generation. As a parting gift, the band have compiled their last two EPs (2021’s A Dream About Love and this year’s A Dream About Death) as the imaginatively titled Two Dreams, and as a full album they complement each other very well. Much of Circa Survive’s appeal comes from vocalist Anthony Green’s unique timbre and his words seem to resonate on a primordial level, it’s as if he’s reaching deep into our soul and plucking our heartstrings. When you factor in a band who’re using tonality to great effect you have an engaging album, and one that demands your full attention. Running chronologically, Two Dreams is a record that flows extremely well and is best consumed in one sitting to fully appreciate its gentle ululations. As final track ‘Buzzhenge’ fades into the ether and Circa Survive disappear into the night, they’ve left behind a fine body of work, and Two Dreams will delight fans for years to come.
Review by Peter Dennis