Search - Circlesquare :: Pre-Earthquake Anthem

Songs from the floor

M. Fantino | San Francisco, California USA | 07/08/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Circlesquare's Pre-Earthquake Anthem fits snugly in the lexicon of the Output Records sound. This unusual record sounds mildly apocalyptic, vaguely narcoleptic, and highly foreboding. The title itself suggests the doom of an impending earthquake. And that imagined catastrophe is the climax that every song aches for, like there is some invisible build-up conjured by Circlequare's hypnotic slow-motion electro-funk. "Just wait here for disaster comes" warns Circlesquare.As far as I can ascertain, Circlesquare is mostly one person, named March21, who has a comforting vocal style sounding like he recorded this album real late at night when everyone else was asleep. A shouting whisper. The strangest part of the record is All Sleepers. Deeply infectious, this one can worm its way into your head and remain there. But there is something strangely familiar about it. 1970's Glam-Boy David Essex's one-hit "Rock On" seems to haunt this song, in melody and spooky chorus punctuated by the yelps of "Hey!" and "Rock + Roll". I have played the two songs together and find it hard to believe this a coincidence. I think Circlesquare's March21 is doing this on purpose. Like it's some sort of strange clue. As if it is "Rock On (part two)". Or a weird joke. But, as baffled as I am by it, it hardly matters because it's an excellent song, both of 'em. Non-Revival Alarm is the central peak of the album, and can be isolated as its best song. Though, Pre-Earthquake Anthem can be seen as one big-long song, Non-Revival Alarm is the catchy part. Especially with the "ba ba ba-ba b-b-ba ba ba ba ba ba ba". If Trevor Jackson were Phil Spector, this would be his Ronettes. Though, I don't know what Trevor Jackson's real role in this album is. I think he produces most of the bands on his label, however all of Circlequare's credits tend to lean to March21."