43. Circles -- William S. Fischer

Mojo Says: "Mutant R&B from New York City's answer to David Axelrod."

Album: Circles
Artist: William S. Fischer
Year: 1970
Length: 36'12"

Track Listing:

1. Patience Is Virtue
2. Saigon
3. Electrix
4. Chains
5. There's A Light That Shines
6. Circle
7. Green Forever
8. Capsule

Favorite Tracks:

1. Patience Is Virtue
2. There's A Light That Shines
3. Circle

Worst Tracks:
Probably Chains, but it's not bad.

Is it weird?
Half of it (Electrix, Chains, Green Forever, and Capsule) is, and the other half really isn't. But it is really good.

Review:

Boy, am I a sucker for juxtaposition. There's just something about an artist or band not being afraid to make an album where one half is comprised of semi-regular R&B tunes and the other half is some of the most intense electronic experimentation this side of Kraftwerk (who had just barely formed when this was released).

This really shouldn't work on paper. There are so many different minds and visions put into the final product, and while this is obvious, this only works in the albums favor. I doubt there were many albums back in 1970 that could scratch as many musical itches as this album does: funk, R&B, chamber music, and experimental electronics; all in the space of 36 minutes.

I know it's kind of counterintuitive for such a weird album to be so immediately enjoyable, but it is. It's just a solid album all around, and I don't have a whole lot of negative things to say about it.

I took awhile, but I've reached an album I can see myself listening to for pleasure again. Finally!

Grade:

9/10

(Did I just review 4 albums in one day?)
(I did, didn't I.)

Listen: