With their outstanding album Amplify, released earlier this year, still drawing attention and acclaim the way of Tess of the Circle, the UK band’s new single just confirms its irresistible qualities and caps a major ground-breaking year for the Oxford hailing outfit.
Formed by and based around the songwriting singer/guitarist Tess Jones, Tess of the Circle is a collective of musical and creative talent which has really caught the wider imagination with second album Amplify, the striking successor to the equally well-received debut Thorns. With lead guitarist Lee Clifton, bassist Ben Drummond, and drummer Paul Stone alongside Jones on the Gavin Monaghan produced full-length and now the new single which comes from the, Tess of the Circle is awakening broader waves of eager appetites for their melody rich rock ‘n’ roll, something I’m Not Ashamed can only add impetus to.
There is a Numan-esque glaze to the initial feel of sound escaping the speakers and Jones’ emotively delivered vocals, a spice remaining to appeal as the track blossoms into a fiery blaze of blues kissed, grunge toned rock ‘n’ roll. Subsequent dips into mellow climes are built on the same eventful melodically suggestive enterprise which shapes the whole of the song, while the bolder feistier body of invention around them provides hazier almost psych rock spun waves of imagination to eagerly surf.
I’m Not Ashamed is one of the numerous treats making up Amplify and alone as their new single, a potent lure for newcomers to explore the increasingly impressive creative world of Tess of the Circle.
I’m Not Ashamed is out November 25th across most online stores.
Upcoming Live Dates:
December 3rd – Planet Rock’s Rockstock Festival
February 3rd 2017 – Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham
Friday May 26th – BEARDED THEORY 2017
http://www.tessofthecircle.com https://www.facebook.com/TessOfTheCircle/
Pete RingMaster 23/11/2016
Copyright RingMaster: MyFreeCopyright
It takes little time for the variety within Amplify to emerge; from The Cars meets John Butler Trio feel of the first song, a Gary Numan air colours the following I’m Not Ashamed, though it is a spice predominantly cast by the vocal tone of Jones. Nevertheless, a great range of emotive and rhythmic shadows wrap the energetic canter of the song, adding weight and intrigue to the hazier lures of guitars and harmonies. As its predecessor, it takes little time to get fully involved with the grungy encounter, a swift persuasion matched by You Take Me Out of My Head and its thumping slice of bullish hard rock and anthemic rock ‘n’ roll. From its fiery jangle and imposing rhythms, the song demands attention, rewarding the submission with addictive hooks and beguiling grooves courted by the delicious throb of Drummond’s bass. Riffs are equally as formidable and persuasive; the track the perfect blend of aggression and seduction with blues enterprise for further drama.
A British independent collective based around the songs and music of singer/songwriter/guitarist Tess Jones, Tess Of The Circle has already made a potent impact with their sound and debut album Thorns, a collection of lyrically biographical songs from Jones bred from a mix of 70’s electric rock riffs and acoustic guitar enterprise. A project starting in 2013 with Jones and a group of live and album musicians within his circle of friends, the band has found greater and closer attention over time, especially since the release of Face the Changes and the outstanding Love Is The Drug That You Crave, the first two singles from the impending Gavin Monaghan produced Amplify.
As its predecessor produced by Gavin Monaghan, Face the Changes gives a slightly different glimpse to the new album and its hinted varied adventure whilst basking in the enterprise which marked out Love Is The Drug That You Crave as an equally rousing proposition bred on the band’s inspiration of 70’s electric rock armed with enterprising acoustic guitar riffs around biographically spawned lyrics. Fresh from 6 triumphant shows at this year’s Glastonbury Festival and strong attention and radio play for the last single, the Oxford hailing collective led by and bringing to life the songs and music of singer/songwriter/guitarist Tess Jones, share another inescapable temptation with Face The Changes.
Love Is The Drug That You Crave is themed by “how we often mistake temporary objects and fixations for love. It suggests that we just see these things for what they are; a wish to feel connected” and straight away the great tones of Jones are gripping ears within swathes of guitar and percussive coaxing. Swiftly though, the song twists into a blazing stroll of fiery rock, that seventies breeding a rampant essence within guitars and keys yet equally there is a feel of varied decades within its spicy grooves and flirtatious hooks. The bass of Ben Drummond is a great shadow and grounding to the roaring flames of guitar from Jones and Lee Clifton, but never dulls their incitement with his string’s resonating throaty tones; it all provoked and stirred up further by the rapier like swings of drummer Paul Stone and the potent vocal incitement of Jones.