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There is something to be said for innocence and experience playing
off each other and creating an intense beauty that runs much deeper
than either phenomenon could produce on its own. Such is the case
with the new release from a project called The Heavy Circles.
One member of the band is familiar to anyone not living under a rock
for the past twenty years, and she is called Edie Brickell.
While fronting her band The New Bohemians over the past two
decades (almost) Edie found some commercial success and became known
for her personable and elegant songwriting style, while the band faded
into relative obscurity continuing to release albums that never re-attained
the height of their first release. The other half of The Heavy Circles
is called Harper Simon. Those who have followed Edie Brickell
and not lived under a rock for the past decade know that she married
Paul Simon - one of the greatest songwriters in history. Paul's
first marriage produced a son and that son was… you guessed it…
Harper Simon. So Harper has known Edie for some time, they've been
friends, and as an inspiration for her he invited her to join in on
a recording session featuring a ton of famous folks… Sean
Lennon, Inara George, Martha Wainwright, etc. The
magic that was born was The Heavy Circles.
So now we know where the band was born… what does the band sound
like? In one word: Awesome! The album floats through a few different
textures, beginning with the dark melancholy drift of "Henri".
There are upbeat poppy tunes that feel more relaxed and comfortable
coming from Brickell's throat like the bouncy "Better" and
the bluesy "Easier". There is more darkness and depth found
on songs like "Confused", but where the eponymous release
really shines is on the song "Ready To Play." This song
has an old-school rock'n'roll rhythm that throbs underneath an engaging
story filled with brilliant imagery. The guitars meander through the
song while the rhythm section keeps it steady, and Brickell's voice
simply soars in a way that hasn't been heard from her for years.
The Heavy Circles contains a touch of Americana, some white
blues, and simple rock and roll sounds, but interwoven among all the
styles is a sense of fun and joy… The record simply sings with
that joy, even in its darker moments. There is a sense that the collaborators
all had a really good time making this record, and I feel like it's
really easy to have a good time listening to it, as well. So do yourself
a favor and stop for a listen. You'll be glad you did.
-L. Keane
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