Live Review: PREMIERE: Squaring Circles share expansive new single, 'Gradients'
Following up an album isn't an easy task, especially when that period involves a line up change within a band, but Squaring Circles have done a stellar job.
Following up an album isn't an easy task, especially when that period involves a line up change within a band, but Melbourne duo SQUARING CIRCLES have done a stellar job indeed this year of making the presence of their next evolution known. After first re-entering with the epic 'Circumambulate' back in March, that single was the first release from the band since vocalist Lili Hall joined full-time after Julien Huynh stepped aside, joining Brendan Anderson. It was a great second first impression, with vocals playing a stronger part than ever thanks to Hall, and laid the perfect foundation for the pair to continue to grow and develop from. Now, we have the counterpart to this first taste in the form of 'Gradients', which we are thrilled to be premiering on Purple Sneakers today.
Unhurried, richly detailed and immediately captivating, 'Gradients' is compelling in how steadily but surely it unfurls itself. In a similarly expansive nature to its predecessor, the song is further exploration of the atmospheric, enigmatic and mysterious world Squaring Circles has created with its music, pulling you into the haze with its allure. Meticulous production meets woozy vocals, crisp beats and reverb-drenched piano to give their classic house sounds so much more depth. Washing over you completely, it's the kind of music that can whisk you far away from your immediate surroundings if only for a few moments if you let it.
Anderson said of the two songs, “These tracks are about the self-hypnotic process of enclosure and encircling, where you fall into your many layers.”
Released alongside a visual accompaniment, Anderson said of this video, "The video was pretty spontaneous and shot in one night at lil's studio by creating some feedback loops through a camcorder into a projector. Although the video is cut together, what you see is essentially the raw footage of the hypnotic loop which we've been recently experimenting with. Our visual component has always been something we've always really enjoyed and exploring that has been integral for us to understand and constellate our sound."
Don't miss a beat with our FREE daily newsletter
It's an impressive release from a duo who still clearly have so much more to give. In a time when many will need an escape, Squaring Circles provide that again and again with their music, and 'Gradients' is one of their very best offerings yet.
Watch 'Gradients' below:
Circumambulate/Gradients is out September 9th via Best & Fairest.
Words by Emma Jones
Image: Supplied
SEE ALSO
More From Our Network
