Fetch the chaise longue: bang a gong, get it on and position yourself in the vicinity of a bloody big bong. Tremendous, expansive, celestial sounds certainly from laidback, so supine they are horizontal, Kiwi crew The Circling Sun helmed by drummer and percussionist Julien Dyne who has co-written much of the material here - the core sound enhanced quite beautifully by a choir of Pacific Island and Maori singers. With pianist Guy Harrison, sax and flute matador J Y Lee, double bassist Ben Turua, Dyne, saxist Cameron Allen and trumpeter Finn Scholes at the core of the Alice Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders loving sound, what a take-your-time sort of muse on the meaning of the universe type of record full of piquant touches and fabulous percussion album this very much is. The riff/groove alchemy of the vamptastic 'Kohan' fluffed out by sensuous flute and celestial voice is just one highlight. The Circling Sun, photo: press. Out today
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