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CIRCU5

by CIRCU5

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    This limited-edition CD package includes a lavish 28-page booklet, 'secret' document, and high-quality digital download card. Featuring photography by Lou Dommett Young.

    "Debut album of the year - it's absolutely stunning." The Titus Jennings Experience

    "Steve Tilling has made a compelling debut. It's a tight, dark intelligent album… albeit one plentifully and carefully decorated with accessible hooks and melodies... the depth of Tilling's wonderlust is his most progressive asset." Prog Magazine

    "Steve Tilling has given us a musical spectacle that will stand the test of time. Great songwriting combined with superb musicianship and a concept that works, CIRCU5 is a triumph." Progradar

    "CIRCU5 would unquestionably have been a huge ‘hit’ back in the day. And unlike some of Tilling’s prog contemporaries, who have a tendency to overegg – and often overcook – the pudding, it is equally palatable today. Impressive." Get Ready To Rock

    Includes unlimited streaming of CIRCU5 via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ... more
    ships out within 2 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      £10 GBP or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      £8 GBP  or more

     

  • T-Shirt/Apparel

    Gildan Softstyle black CIRCU5 T-Shirt - available in L, XL, M, S, XXL

    £10 plus postage (to UK, Europe and Rest of World)
    ships out within 2 days
    edition of 108 
    Purchasable with gift card

      £10 GBP or more 

     

1.
Coming Home 02:31
Rows of boxes in a room storeys underground The surrogates look through the gloom in their labour gowns Welcome to the world so new, innocent and pure Such wonders lie in wait for you, just behind the door The cord was torn the moment you were born, so warm I'll take you while you're sleeping My son, you're coming home Years will pass locked in this place, where the work began No favours, friends or words of grace, following the plan Cries of elemental fear echo as I roam the corridors that lead me here, watching you alone The stones they throw will never break your bones I'll hone and shape you in our keeping My son, you're coming home (There is a reason for the life you are given If you let us, we will take you to an undiscovered land of freedom There are no demons in this room you have always known as home)
2.
I'll isolate you from your friends and make you take me back again, and then I will subdue you, your will is mine to bend I'll strip the layers from your brain then leave you breaking down in pain and shame I will possess you, your life is mine to tame I'll request your company then I will shake you from your tree Just step behind the line and find my degenerate mind Smoke out the serpents from their homes, erase the sheepdog-headed clones and drones I will consume you, absorb your chromosomes Just peel away, just peel away my skin, just peel away my skin, just peel away Just steal away, just steal away my sin, just steal away my sin, just steal away
3.
Stars 05:05
All my life, I'm thinking in black and white, I'm pushing through All my life, I'm trying to make things right and make it true What can I do to make you happy? Want to feel it What can I do to make you happy? Want to feel it Are we near it? One of these days, the stars won't shine, so take this world and make it mine If you want it, you can have it, if you see it, you can steal it One of these days, the stars won't shine, so take this world and make it mine If you want it, you can have it, if you see it, you can steal it for yourself Take this life, I'm ready to kick and fight, and cut in two Break this life, I'm taking the pain outside and into view
4.
Days Erased 01:52
I dreamed of life in sunlit lands with gleaming trains and cars and trams that snake past workers heads hung low, each marching through the undertow The rising roar as jet planes fly past towers puncturing the sky, where smart-controlled apartment homes keep watch over the bleached-white bones Lines and lines all laid to rest and dressed up in their Sunday best Spread out on the mezzanines, their sockets stare into the screens A waiter at a broken door declares the third and final war The screams of millions as they die while fingers swipe and scroll on by As meat slides from the serving trays, the seconds pass, our days erased
5.
Strings 04:05
I need to know myself I cannot see myself in them I hear the lies they tell I will not let them make amends Now I'm watching as you pull on the strings You're making me dance to all your schemes I'm wondering about so many things and nothing is ever as it seems I must control myself I cannot show my hand to them Two lives in parallel I will pursue them to the end (I will not let you follow, I will not try to make you see that I could never be the one you wanted I will not let you follow, I will not try to make you see that I could never be the one)
6.
Shut me down and walk away, lock me out another day I contemplate the path that stretches out before me Twisting on the tourniquet, a superficial power play Amputate the past and everything I could be I won't make a final plea, I won't change your mind, so blame it on me, say it's all me I don't need your sympathy, I'll just take my time, so blame it on me, say it's all me Questioning my sanity, a symptom of my vanity Take the stand as witness for the prosecution Fake a face of empathy, illusion of humanity I command the forces of my retribution You can have the final say but words mean nothing and now you have to pay No one will hear you pray, too late for waiting, your chance has come and gone Shut me down
7.
Roll up, see the monstrous Grady Stand up, come and see how you made me You tell me I'm not enough But I'm The Amazing Monstrous Grady I am so sorry I don't fit with your plans Sweet sister morphine has my life in her hands Contained and labelled in her bottles and cans Time slows, walls glow, my mind flows in this sideshow Thrown out to sea, I cannot swim to the shore A broken shell with stretching fingers of gore When I reform, I'll trap you under my claw Time slows, walls glow, my mind flows in this sideshow "Roll up, roll up, see the man with claws for hands Hurry hurry, step inside, the entrance fee is your mind" Breathe in, let the light capture me Breathe out, let all become one Breathe in, the spirits enrapture me This twisted geometry is where I'm from
8.
Did you see the news today? The boy you loved just went astray all alone He never came home The hunter gathered up his prey The blame will rest with no one but the unknowns stepping over the bones If you could take a soul and set it free, you'd understand the man I came to be Just look into the light that shines behind these eyes on the day that I became The Chosen One Did you see my work today? Everyone was torn away from the crowd You would have been proud A sacrificial thrill display Smiling as their lives come tumbling down, staring up from the ground I will make you see a way out of all this mind debris from those who will analyse me, demonise me Your humanity will make an open sanctuary from those who will sanctify me, crucify me, lay me down to sleep The promises they would never keep are gone
9.
Instrumental
10.
Break the bread and spill my wine, taking all that once was mine Disowning me three times then telling me you'll always be around Twist the thorns into my head for all the pointless words I said Strike the nails through every part of me for all my sins Soon, the mountains will fall into the sea and angels will come to cover me in shards of luminescence Stars explode into supernova clouds that carry me spinning to the ground, where laying staring at the sun, fire rains down
11.
She walks into the room and pulls the shroud away And washing out the wounds, she whispers through the grey "Wake now my son, the time has come, the crowds above are waiting" Flying over mountains down through fields of eyes A thousand faces stare into the burning sky "Rise now my son, you are the one, divine the signs appearing" I'll make you tell the world a stranger's story I'll leave a trail into my empty soul I'll take the blame and bathe my name in glory I'll bleed your veins and make you take control The silent masses stand and raise their hands in praise to visions of a kingdom shining through the haze "Lay down my son, your time has gone, the seed is sown and growing" In the garden of earthly delights So we'll flow through a prism of darkness and light The world will come to know you are The Chosen One as we fall into the centre of the sun I'll make you tell the world a stranger's story I'll leave a trail into my empty soul I'll resurrect your fear with every warning I'll keep you near until I make you whole
12.
How my life is changing through all I lost and won, all my work is done In the final stages of who is right or wrong, all my work is done I'll find my way back home Reading through the pages that change with every turn, nothing left to learn Filling in the spaces of who I had become, back where I belong I'll find my way back home I tried to run away and wandered through a town where everything had burned, and weeds had grown up through the windows and the floors; and fields were filled with toys, machines and rusting cars Then walking to the trees with autumn all around, I came into a place where branches blocked the sun I fell into a room where shadows came to rest in corners out of sight The light would shine on to the people gathered round who came to say goodbye but never found the time When everyone had gone, I turned and walked away Without a glance behind, returning to the place I'd always known I've found my way back home

about

"Enter a dark world of edgy rock with a progressive twist - wrapped in a story about a child raised as a psychopath."

Circu5 is the solo project of British multi-instrumentalist and session musician, Steve Tilling, who handles almost all instrument and vocal duties on his debut album.

The album also features guest performances from Dave Gregory (XTC, Big Big Train), Phil Spalding (Mike Oldfield), Matt Backer (Julian Lennon), Alan van Kleef (Ariel X), Johnny Warman (Peter Gabriel) and Andy Neve (Steve Hackett).

The album traces the life of a child raised as a psychopath in a secret government organisation, which aims to cure the condition while harnessing positive traits for certain roles. The character discovers the truth as a dysfunctional adult – with catastrophic consequences.

"Debut album of the year - it's absolutely stunning." The Titus Jennings Experience

"Steve Tilling has made a compelling debut. It's a tight, dark intelligent album… albeit one plentifully and carefully decorated with accessible hooks and melodies... the depth of Tilling's wonderlust is his most progressive asset." Prog Magazine

"Steve Tilling has given us a musical spectacle that will stand the test of time. Great songwriting combined with superb musicianship and a concept that works, CIRCU5 is a triumph." Progradar

"CIRCU5 would unquestionably have been a huge ‘hit’ back in the day. And unlike some of Tilling’s prog contemporaries, who have a tendency to overegg – and often overcook – the pudding, it is equally palatable today. Impressive." Get Ready To Rock

credits

released September 15, 2017

Recorded at The Crypt, Swindon, and Axis Recording Studio, Doncaster
Produced by Steve Tilling
Additional production (drums): Matt Ellis at Axis Recording Studio
Mixed and mastered at The Bunker, Swindon, by Stu Rowe and Steve Tilling
Additional mixing: Alan van Kleef
Music, lyrics and story: Steve Tilling
Additional lyrics and melody on Stars: Gary Saunders
Cover art and design: Richard Webb
Photography: Lou Young for Dommett Young Photography
Urban exploration: Alex Kirkland

For more information, visit www.circu5.com

Steve Tilling: Vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, bass, piano, percussion, drums, synthesisers, field recordings, calliope
Matt Backer: End guitar solo on The Chosen One – Transfiguration, and additional guitar on The Chosen One – Ascension
Dave Gregory: Guitars on Strings and The Chosen One – Ascension
Alan van Kleef: Drums
Andy Neve: Keyboards and synthesisers on Days Erased
Phil Spalding: Harmony vocals on Coming Home and The Chosen One – Transfiguration
Johnny Warman: Harmony vocals and side show calling on The Amazing Monstrous Grady
Lou Young: CIRCU5 psychologist on The Chosen One – Resurrection

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CIRCU5 London, UK

CIRCU5 is the solo project of multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Steve Tilling. The debut album features guest performances from Dave Gregory (XTC, Big Big Train), Phil Spalding (Mike Oldfield), Matt Backer (Julian Lennon), Alan van Kleef (Ariel X), Johnny Warman (Peter Gabriel) and Andy Neve (Steve Hackett). ... more

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