THE CIRCLE

In the bottom of the list of 90's Neo Prog acts in terms of popularity, but this Dutch band had something interesting to offer.They started as 5:01 AM with Edu Arde on vocals/saxophone, Jan Pezie on keyboards/backing vocals, Rich Reinders on guitars, Bas de Vries on drums and Robert Dupre on bass and in 1994 they released the 5-track EP ''The circle'', recorded at the Poort Van Kleef Studios in February/March of the same year.Arde appears to be the lyricist of the band and Pezie the main composer.

Give some credit to this 5-piece for adding some cool sax lines among the typical characteristics of a Neo Prog band, which were the refined melodies, the Classical-influenced piano lines, the dreamy keyboard parts and the smooth electric guitars.Musically they sound somewhere between EGDON HEATH, PTS and CLIFFHANGER, passing through dramatic textures, atmospheric soundscapes and uptempo passages, having overall a pretty balanced sound, which includes some fine vocal performances.They could produce some very good lyrical parts, complementing the well-crafted musicianship, featuring dual executions on keyboards and piano, adding some symphonic elements, but keeping in general a pompous style similar to the Neo Prog bands of the period.Not very risky material to say the truth, but all tracks are at least decent with some nice instrumental tricks.The opening ''Journey'', which is the only instrumental track of the album, is representative of the 5:01 AM's talent, very diverse, with great guitar and keyboard parts and a beautiful sax solo by Arde.

Unknown and underground Neo Prog EP.Hard to find, but if you do, this is rewarding for its deep sense of melody and elaborate arrangements.Recommended.