Scott's Spotlight #48: Circuline

 To be posted to Facebook on either October 10 or 11, 2025.

Welcome to Scott’s Spotlight (#scottsspotlight) issue #48.  For more information about this series, please click here:

https://www.facebook.com/share/Gc2VkwHQWGLdeaDd/?mibextid=oFDknk

Today I’ll be looking at a fairly new prog band, which, if your Facebook feed is anything like mine, you might have seen them offering a free CD: Circuline.  Circuline was first formed in 2014 by members of a then recently-defunct prog tribute band, Downing Grey. Spearheaded by Juilliard alumnus, classically trained keyboardist and vocalist Andrew Colyer (who is also a practicing certified Doctor of Chiropractic) , with the goal of writing and performing original material, he recruited other former Downing Grey members to round out the line up.  The resumes of the members are all astounding.  Drummer Darin Brannon discovered prog music in high school after hearing Jethro Tull’s “Thick as a Brick”.  He was a multi-instrumentalist in a family of multi-instrumentalists, also playing piano and saxophone in school musical ensembles. Among other musical education experiences, Darin studied with drumming legend Chad Wackerman (best known for working with Frank Zappa and Allan Holdsworth, among many others). The band began with double lead singers–one male one female.  The male singer was Billy Spillane.  He had been an actor and singer with a high tenor voice for more than 25 years before joining Circuline.  In addition to Downing Grey, he had fronted Led Zeppelin tribute band No Quarter.  He also played rhythm guitar with Circuline.  The Female singer was, and still is, Natalie Brown.  She attended the Boston Conservatory of Music, but left before graduating to pursue a career in acting and music.  Among her career highlights, she played the lead in “Evita” twice and sold out shows with her own band “Natalie Brown and Friends”.  She also found her way to Circuline via Downing Grey.  Rounding out the initial line-up was highly-respected guitarist Bill Shannon, who had been the founder of Downing Grey.

The initial writing team of Colyer, Brannon and Shannon were joined by guitarist/vocalist Randy McStine to compose the songs for the first album.  McStine was then best known for his project Lo-Fi Resistance, but has built his career since then with his work with Marco Minneman, and Porcupine Tree/Steven Wilson among many others. McStine also contributed some vocals to the album.  Sharp-eyed readers may have noticed that there was not a bass player in the initial line-up. The band reached out to Sound of Contact bassist Matt Dorsey who held down the bottom end on the album.  Additionally, electric violinist Joe Deninzon, of proggers Stratospheerius (currently also with Kansas), plays a solo on the album.

That album, called “Return” was unleashed in 2015.  Colyer stated in this interview around the time of the album’s release in 2015 (https://progarchy.com/2015/03/27/circuline-a-well-rounded-band/) that the album’s title, an unusual one for a debut, that:  

“I’m glad you asked! Actually, for all of us, we are returning to what we love most – music. Every one of us started out as a young person dreaming of a career in music. Every one of us attained some level of success. But for one reason or another, had kind of dropped out.”

The album was generally well received and has an average score of 3.87 out of 5 on Prog Archives (PA).  Some stand out tracks include, the title track, “Nebulae”, “One Wish” and “Silence Revealed”, which is the track on which Joe Deninzon appears.

Between “Return” and its follow-up “Counterpoint”, released in 2016, original guitarist Bill Shannon left the band.  According to the band’s website:  “Bill left the band in summer 2016, due to creative differences and the pressures of writing, recording, and performing live.” (https://circulinemusic.com/band/past-members/past-member-bill-shannon-guitars/) He was replaced by Uruguayan guitarist José Pedro Beledo, who uses his last name as a stage name. Beledo was already an established solo artist and in demand collaborator in the prog and fusion worlds by the time he joined Circuline.  Also joining the band on the album is bassist Paul Ranieri.  Ranieri is also a veteran professional, having played with the Mark Wood Rock Orchestra, Dangered Ace and Shadow Eden. Ranieri actually had joined in late 2014 after the debut album was recorded, but before its release, and toured with them, including opening act dates for Glass Hammer.

“Counterpoint” seems to be as equally well-received as “Return”, receiving an average score of 3.86 out of 5.  Randy McStine was once again part of the writing team. Also, Matt Dorsey and Randy McStine are among the multiple “guest guitarists” on the album:

With guest guitarists:

- Randy McStine (Lo-Fi Resistance)

- Matt Dorsey (Sound of Contact)

- Doug Ott (Enchant)

- Stanley Whitaker (Oblivion Sun)

- Ryche Chlandra (Flying Dreams)

- Kamran Alan Shikoh (Glass Hammer)

- Alek Darson (Fright Pig)

 The album contains the longest Circuline track to date, “Hollow” which clocks-in at nearly 11 minutes.  Other tracks I have enjoyed are “New Day”, “Forbidden Planet”, “Nautilus” and “Summit”.

Following the touring cycle for “Counterpoint”, which included playing the “Prog On the Ranch” festival in Florida in 2017, the ProgStock festival that year, and opening for IO Earth (whom I wrote about in a previous spotlight, I’ll link it below)  in the UK, there were numerous delays and line-up changes before releasing their next studio album, “C.O.R.E.” in 2024.  At some point after “Counterpoint” was released, both Beledo and Paul Ranieri exited the band, but it is unclear as to when or why that happened. In the interim, Circuline released 2 live albums.  The first was recorded at ROSFest in May of 2016, and released in 2018. It is titled “Circulive::Majestik”.  The line up includes Colyer, Brown, Brannon, Spillane and Beledo with guest bassist Harold Skeete from the band Ad Astra and an appearance from Circuline collaborator Joe Deninzon on the electric.  The other one came out in 2020, titled “Circulive::New View (Live at ProgStock)”.  The line up again contains Colyer, Brown, Brannon and Spillane, but this time, Alek Darson plays guitar and percussion, while Joel Simches plays bass, bass pedals and drums.  Darson is a Serbian born guitar virtuoso, and Simches had been Circuline's live sound engineer, and auditioned when the bass slot became open, and landed the gig.  Meanwhile, the band began working on a new album as early as January of 2018. The writing team included Colyer, Brown, Brannon, Spillane along with Darson and Matt Dorsey (who collaborated on the first album, if you’ll recall).  In the following time period, Colyer became in demand as a keyboardist, and collaborated and/or toured with several artists including the following bands/artists: Cell15, Awaken, Frank Wyatt, and Robert Berry.  Dorsey was involved between 2018-22, but decided to join the band Progject, and start his solo career (with Colyer contributing to his first solo album).  As for Darson, while the band recognises his high level of talent, he was more influenced by prog-metal bands, particularly Dream Theater, so they mutually agreed that it wasn’t the best musical match, style-wise, and Darson exited.  Spillane remained involved until 2021, when he left for personal reasons.  His contributions to the album are credited.  Of course, the 2020-21 pandemic era also contributed to the delays.  So, Circuline found themselves in need of a guitarist and bassist, once again. For the guitar spot, they landed Dave Bainbridge, who is known for his work as a member of Strawbs, Lifesigns, Downes-Braide Association (DBA) and Iona.  On the bass end, they recruited Shelby Logan Warne from the U.K., who is known for her project Kyros (formerly Synaesthesia), who, in addition to her bass skills, also brings keyboard and vocal abilities.

With all of the side projects and line-up changes out of the way Circuline finally emerged with their third studio album in September of 2024.  The album is titled “C.O.R.E.” and has the following line-up/credits:

Line-up / Musicians

- Andrew Colyer / keyboards, lead & backing vocals

- Darin Brannon / drums & percussion, keyboards

- Natalie Brown / lead & backing vocals

- Shelby Logan Warne / bass

- Dave Bainbridge / guitars, additional keyboards

With:

- Joe Deninzon / acoustic & electric violins (8)

- William "Billy" Spillane / backing vocals

- Alek Darson / additional guitars (2)

“C.O.R.E.” stands for Circuline Original Reimagined Evolving, which is certainly the case.  And the album is once again, very strong, garnering an average of 3.89 out of 5 on PA, which is on par with the first two.  Notable tracks include: “Third Rail”, “All”, “Blindside” (Incredible harmonies and amazing lead vocals from Natalie Brown), and the 9:21 “Transmission Error”, which features Joe Deninzon on violin once again.

Since the album has been released, it seems that Shelby Logan Warne may possibly be out of the line-up, but I cannot fully confirm that (my apologies if I am incorrect); she IS still listed as a member on the band’s official website.  What IS clear, however, was that she was unable to be “performance ready” for the band’s 2024 ProgStock performance (https://circulinemusic.com/category/concerts-live-performances-and-festivals/).  On the same page is another announcement, that singer/multi-instrumentalist Michael Gauvreau (Willie Aames, Jumptown, ColyerBrown), who has been a friend and musical associate of Natalie Brown since they were both in 5th grade performed with Circuline at that same ProgFest performance (and, yes, for us Gen Xrs who remember, that is the same Willie Aames who was on “Eight is Enough” back in the day–who knew he had a band!).  I do not know if he has become a permanent member.   The most recent post on the band’s website is the news that they have sold out of all physical copies of the debut album, which was posted on August 26. 2025.  What Circuline has in store for us is still a mystery at this point.

So, If you are looking for a modern prog band that honors the legacy of classic symphonic prog, with virtuosic players, yet with modern flourishes, Circuline just might be the band for you!  Be sure to check out the links for listening, below.

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Prog On!

Scott

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LINKS FOR LISTENING:

From “Return”

“Return” (Official Video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfnfYWKaB9o

“Silence Revealed” (Official Video)

https://youtu.be/5wXRYyGlO9k

From “Counterpoint”

“Summit” (Official Video) (note: Joel Simches appears in the video on bass)

https://youtu.be/MAuTGqOmWg4

“Hollow”

https://youtu.be/5_cBdyzpIN8

From “C.O.R.E.”

“Blindside” (Official Video)

https://youtu.be/rYFUrecwwp8

“Transmission Error” (Official lyric video)

https://youtu.be/OThcMzyPXag