THE CIRCLING SUN Vinilo y CD

Review: New Zealand ensemble The Circling Sun follow up their debut with seven new compositions that blend mid-70s spiritual jazz with modular synth work and Afro-Cuban rhythmic structures. ‘Constellation’ opens with choral motifs and analogue pulses, setting the tone for a set that shifts easily between acoustic and electronic palettes. ‘Mizu’ and ‘Seki’ both lean into syncopated hand percussion, with upright piano and saxophone sitting high in the mix. ‘Amina’ introduces layered vocals over a looser, groove-driven rhythm, while ‘Flying’ stretches further into ambient territory, guided by slow synth arpeggios and minimal melodic phrasing. ‘Teeth’ cuts back to more percussive material, cycling through drum and modular interplay without reaching for climax. Closer ‘Evening’ softens the pace, drawing on warm textures and sustained chords to round out the set. The sequencing keeps the energy in motion without pushing too far into repetition. It’s a subtle but deliberate shift in direction — less revivalist than their previous work and more focused on tone and movement.