THE CIRCLE & THE BLUE DOOR

2013 was the year that Purson had finally released their debut album and it was pretty much as good as I was expecting it to be! After the debut EP in 2013 and the first single Leaning On A Bear, my expectations upon this release were really high. Looking at the track list, I saw a few familiar tracks like the re-recorded versions of Spiderwood Farm and Rocking Horse, from the debut EP, and the first single Leaning On A Bear. This meant that I already was familiar with three out of the eleven tracks featured here. But how was the rest of the tracks and how well did the familiar material blend in with the rest of the album?

The opening track Wake Up Sleepy Head starts off with a dreamy intro which is then followed by the more familiar tones of electric guitar and organ on The Contract. The slightly expanded version of Spiderwood Farm is neither better nor worse than its predecessor off the debut EP while the playful tones of Sailor's Wife's Lament remind me of the Slapp Happy album Casablanca Moon. The first single, Leaning On A Bear, is another uptempo rock track featuring a hefty dose of organ while Tempest And The Tide is where the album introduces familiar tunes of Mellotron. I really hope that Purson could do more longer tracks since most of their better material is generally tracks that dare to go past the five minute mark.

Mavericks And Mystics and Well Spoiled Machine seem to pass by pretty swiftly, both featuring a few interesting passages here and there but overall don't bring me the same sense of enjoyment as some of the other tracks on The Circle & The Blue Door. Sapphire Ward is the album's heaviest moment that is dominated by some heavy electric guitar riffing action. Rocking Horse sounds pretty much the same as the version featured on their debut EP, which makes me wonder if the actually re-recorded the track? It's still a solid composition nonetheless. The final track Tragic Catastrophe is easily my favorite part of this album, featuring a strong organ-driven melody that leaves me wanting to hear more from Purson.

The Circle & The Blue Door is a strong debut album by a band that clearly knows what they're doing and it leaves me with a sense that Purson can do no wrong by pursuing their retro style psychedelic rock sound. If you're into beautiful organ-driven rock music then this band is definitely gonna be up your alley!

***** star songs: Spiderwood Farm (5:09) Tempest And The Tide (5:06) Tragic Catastrophe (5:21)

**** star songs: Wake Up Sleepy Head (2:06) The Contract (4:11) Sailor's Wife's Lament (3:59) Leaning On A Bear (3:27) Mavericks And Mystics (3:48) Well Spoiled Machine (5:09) Sapphire Ward (5:02) Rocking Horse (4:25)