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Heavy Circles Making Waves

Timothy B. Abbott | 02/17/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album hooked me from the first lick. It was a smart piece of market exposure for Edie Brickell and Harper Simon to pitch their new collaboration on NPR, where I and 12 million other listeners were treated to generous samples of their new creation on All Things Considered. I've had The Heavy Circles in permanent rotation ever since.



Each track has a distinct flavor and feel, and all complement Brickell's ethereal voice and considerable artistic range. Harper Simon both produced and plays guitar and bass on the album with Brickell (who incidentally is his stepmother) and is responsible for pulling together a number of other talented musicians on this project, including Sean Lennon and Martha Wainwright.



The first track, "Henri", washes over you with vocals and instruments blending in different time signatures, and only later did I recognize in the lyrics an homage to Matisse. I see it is a free download here so do not fail to treat yourself before you buy the album. "Need a Friend" is a reggae vehicle complete with righteous horn hits, while "Dynamite Child" thrashes with pre-techno glory and sounds for all the world like a Japanese punk band covering Bauhaus. There are hints of Creedence and Lou Reed in "Ready to Play", and "Easier" makes me think of what the Jayhawks or a producer like Joe Henry might have done with a female vocalist of Edie's caliber.



Here's hoping they'll make it a regular thing. Music this good can't be limited to a single album.

"

Tight, Sonically Layered Compositions

Steven C. Stromp | Grand Rapids, MI | 02/18/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Heavy Circles is a project of Edie Brickell's and Harper Simon's (Paul Simon's son from a previous marriage). It may be easier to think of this as an Edie Brickell project, but Harper Simon's production and guitar work help give the CD a different sound than what you'd expect from Brickell.



First of all, for those of you who only think of Edie Brickell from her 80's hit "What I Am" with her band New Bohemians, then you haven't been paying attention. The New Bohemians have had two follow-up albums: "Ghost of a Dog" and last year's "Stranger Things." Edie has been involved in a number of other projects, as well as solo work: "Picture Perfect Morning" and 2004's "Volcano." In addition, Edie has been posting songs she considers her "stray songs" on her website, and more recently to her MySpace page. Over the past year in particular, she has been especially prolific. While she may consider some of these tunes as toss aways, I consider the collection her best "album." Like short poems jotted down in a notebook, they are personal, endearing and raw. And like all of Brickell's work--well written.



The Heavy Circles CD is decidedly more polished compared to these "stray songs." But what struck me first is how tight the compositions are. Most songs run barely three minutes and never overstay their welcome. This is in sharp contrast to her latest effort with the New Bohemians (Stranger Things), where the songs seemed a bit more airy. This makes sense, as Brickell has been quoted as saying she always considered the New Bohemians a jam band. Not saying one approach is better than the other, but the tighter approach on The Heavy Circles serves the songs well.



What struck me next is how sonically layered each song is. This is a CD you will need to listen to with a good pair of headphones in order to get the full effect. This no doubt is thanks to Harper's production skills as well as the guest musicians and vocalists. I have heard two versions of songs before where the soul of the original has been removed after adding layers of unnecessary sound. However, in this case, the layers never overpower the tunes; they only serve to enhance.



A good example is the first track, "Henri," which serves as a sonic interpretation of Henri Matisse paintings. If you do the work and search for Matisse paintings online, or if you have a book of his work handy, you can just about create a picture book that goes along with the clever lyrics that describe each. The song has a retro 60's feel with a middle-eastern flair. It is easily the most unique song on the album.



Other stand out tunes: "Better" is a piano-pounding romp with impressive guitar work and rapid-fire lyric delivery from Edie. "Easier" is soulful ballad with a hint of country. The beginning of "Maximo" is the closest we get to familiar sounding New Bohemians territory, but then the song suddenly explodes into an ethereal mix. "Dynamite Child" is an unapologetic hard-hitting rock tune, and "Oh Darling" ends the set with a mid-tempo jewel rich with sounds to make your headphones happy.



[...]"

Edie Brickell's Wonderful New Sound

David | Oceanside, CA USA | 02/12/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Heavy Circles new cd is a fantastic mix of songs unlike anything that Edie Brickell has done with The New Bohemians or Solo. Harper Simon & Bryce Goggin did a great job of picking some awesome songs that fit Edie well. The sound is all over from a little hint of a middle eastern type song Henri, some rockin' songs like Better & Dynamite Child as well as a reggae beat to Need a Friend. Edie has a beautiful voice and this cd is really one worth buying. With the help of many musicians they put together a real jem."