http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.6877659&variant=artist-playlists&rws=%2Fcirclesquare%2Fplaylists.rss<p>Circlesquare is the alias of Vancouver's Jeremy Shaw, who melds post-punk, ambient drones and steely techno overtones into a dark, molten sound overlaid with his own distinctive vocals. The plangent tones of steel guitar sometimes recall Angelo Badalamenti or Chris Isaak, while Shaw's breathy voice lends a smacking of Velvet Underground-style disaffected cool. But the pervasive atmosphere is a kind of narcotic haze of too-slow beats and melting tones.</p> <p>Shaw began the project in 1999 with "The Distance After" single for Trevor Jackson's Output label, but he really hit his stride with 2004's spellbinding <I>Pre-Earthquake Anthem</I>. After 2006's <I>Fight Sounds</I> EP, a collection of sketches and stylistic experiments, Shaw was left briefly in limbo after Output folded, but returned in 2009 with <I>Songs About Dancing and Drugs</I>. Recorded with a full rhythm section and painstakingly remixed by Shaw, the album was at once sensuous and numb, an appropriate contradiction for a record (and an artist) so preoccupied with the comedown.</p> - Philip SherburneDowntempoen720Thu, 24 Dec 2009 18:55:45 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.6877659&variant=artist-playlists&rws=%2Fcirclesquare%2Fplaylists.rss <p>Circlesquare is the alias of Vancouver's Jeremy Shaw, who melds post-punk, ambient drones and steely techno overtones into a dark, molten sound overlaid with his own distinctive vocals. The plangent tones of steel guitar sometimes recall Angelo Badalamenti or Chris Isaak, while Shaw's breathy voice lends a smacking of Velvet Underground-style disaffected cool. But the pervasive atmosphere is a kind of narcotic haze of too-slow beats and melting tones.</p> <p>Shaw began the project in 1999 with "The Distance After" single for Trevor Jackson's Output label, but he really hit his stride with 2004's spellbinding <I>Pre-Earthquake Anthem</I>. After 2006's <I>Fight Sounds</I> EP, a collection of sketches and stylistic experiments, Shaw was left briefly in limbo after Output folded, but returned in 2009 with <I>Songs About Dancing and Drugs</I>. Recorded with a full rhythm section and painstakingly remixed by Shaw, the album was at once sensuous and numb, an appropriate contradiction for a record (and an artist) so preoccupied with the comedown.</p> - Philip Sherburne