It goes to figure that a Canadian electronic act would have to go to the UK to get proper recognition. While Jeremy Shaw, more commonly known as the multimedia artist Circlesquare, recorded the entire Fight Sounds EP in British Columbia's Vancouver, the place he finds major release is on Trevor "Underdog" Jackson's London-based Output Recordings (Colder, Four Tet's Dialogue). Once there, he earned props from all the right magazines, including Jockey Slut and Dazed & Confused. But what of the vital North American market? You really need to open up your mind, guys. Taking in Shaw's eight channel video art installation, DMT might be a good start... or just taking some DMT [dimethyltryptamine, produces powerful shamanic hallucinations for about 30]. But really, this square's blend of morose, bitter, heartbroken vocals, sparse chords, and tame but dark industrial electronics and beats can't be that far out of the normal, expected range, even without a mystical psychedelic experience. "97 & 02" could easily fit on any number of indie rock compilations as it pits Shaw's gutted voice against a simple guitar melody with a dab of Sonic Youth noise. The album highlight for me, despite hosting the worst of its lyrics ["party all the, party all the, party all the, party all the time"], is "You Missed The Fireworks," which, topped off by that tasty bloopy glitch hook, encompasses all of what Circlesquare is today. Here's to more creative Canadian music. Some day still, people may get over Nickelback and see that Canada has something musically decent to offer.
1. Fight Sounds Part 1
2. 97 & 02
3. Fight Sounds Part 2A
4. Fight Sounds Part 2B
5. Fight Sounds Part 2C
6. Fight Sounds Part 2D
7. You Missed The Fireworks
8. Fight Sounds Part 3
More about: Circlesquare
