There’s a strange kind of magic in unearthed music, especially when it’s as effective and fierce as Circle Music + 4, the long-overdue vinyl compilation from Drill For Absentee. The Philadelphia-based act, a cult fixture in the ‘90s underground post-hardcore and noise rock scenes, resurfaces after more than two decades to give their fiercely devoted fanbase the reissue they never knew they needed. And while nostalgia often runs the risk of eclipsing substance, Drill For Absentee’s music remains as powerful and relevant as ever. Raw, layered, and urgent, yet somehow supernatural in its own right. With Circle Music + 4, Drill For Absentee showcases everything that made them stand out in the first place, an almost alchemical blend of post-hardcore intensity, noise rock abrasiveness, and post-punk/post-rock atmospherics. The album pulsates with a distinguishable energy, moving from jangly, angular aggression to sprawling, hypnotic passages with an effortless elegance. Despite the compilation’s origins spanning decades, every track feels cohesive, and unified by a signature, jagged, and dreamlike sound.
The vocal performance lays at the core of Drill For Absentee’s sonic identity, transcending typical boundaries of the mentioned genres. The interplay between fierce shouts and ethereal melodies is arresting. The screams don’t just explode, they expand, reverberating through the walls of sound with a near-celestial weight. The calmer vocal moments offer a fragile beauty that amplifies the impact of the harsher sections. It’s an exercise in tension and release, where the transitions are so natural, and each shift in intensity feels like a crucial part of a larger journey. The guitar work is equally impressive. From intricate, mathy riffs to sweeping, textural soundscapes, the playing is as precise and emotionally charged. The chord progressions and harmonies possess a strange, almost psychedelic pull, never meandering, yet always evolving, drawing the listener deeper into Drill For Absentee’s sonic universe. There’s a specific weight lying in these compositions, not just in their sonic density, but in the way they evoke a spectrum of emotions without ever resorting to predictability.
Warm, articulate basslines etch their own melodic space while reinforcing the immense dynamic range. The interplay between bass and drums is nearly mindblowing. They never overpower, yet always enhance the structural complexity of the songs. Ken Kuniyoshi’s drumming is tight yet expressive, incorporating intricate beats, unexpected fills, and rhythmic shifts that feel completely natural. It dictates the very movement of the songs, elevating them beyond regular post-hardcore compositions. Circle Music + 4 is a carefully curated compilation where the tension builds and releases in perfect sync. Moments of relentless post-hardcore energy dissolve into atmospheric interludes before rising again with renewed intensity. It’s this push and pull, this sense of movement, that will keep listeners engaged from scratch to finish. Bob Weston’s mastering ensures that even the earliest recordings sound robust and immediate. While the fidelity of certain tracks reflects their original limitations, it ultimately adds to the raw, authentic feel of the compilation. There’s an intimacy to these recordings that modern polish could have easily sterilized, but instead, Weston’s touch preserves and enhances their inherent character.
For longstanding Drill For Absentee fans, Circle Music + 4 will acts as an essential compilation album, a long-lost artifact finally given the treatment it deserves. But even for newcomers, this release serves as an impeccable entry point into the band’s world. It’s a record that offers new layers of intricacy with every spin. And with only 200 copies pressed on 180-gram vinyl, this release is one of those records you should grab as soon as possible before they’re all gone. More than just a document of a band that once was, Circle Music + 4 proves that Drill For Absentee’s music never truly faded. It lounges, resonates, and refuses to be confined by time. It’s a reminder of just how vital and powerful underground post-hardcore music can be. Play it loud, let it sink in, and then play it again. Head to Expert Work Records for more information about ordering.
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