The Circulatory System is a band composed of Will Cullen Hart, Peter Erchick, John Fernandes, Hannah Jones, and Heather McIntosh. Will, Peter and John were all members of the band Olivia Tremor Control, while Hannah and Heather were recruited for this endeavor. The band was initially formed in 2000 after Olivia Tremor Control disbanded, and Will Hart was encouraged by friends (specifically John Fernandes) to finish some incomplete demos that he had been working on while a member of OTC. So, after gathering up the would be members of the band, and a few Elephant 6 friends (like Jeff Mangum), The Circulatory System began recording their first album at Radium Recording Studio in Athens, Georgia, and their self-titled album was released in August of 2001, under their own label, Cloud Recordings.
The band then proceeded to tour in September of 2001. At each of their shows, the band made available for purchase special CD-Rs of the bands work, each with its own original artwork (provided by Will Hart), and different remixes or variations on songs from the album. These special offers were referred to as "Inside Views," and can be found on The Circulatory Systems website. As of now, The Circulatory System is working on a second release. However, according to the Elephant 6 website, there is no official release date.
I was first attracted to this band when I read somewhere that Jeff Mangum was involved, and after falling in love with Neutral Milk Hotel, it seemed only natural that I give The Circulatory System a listen. Well, I was a little saddened when I saw that Mangum played more of a supportive, and less emphasized role on this album. However, I quickly forgot about this small matter after my first time through this CD. I was left in sheer awe by how moving and haunting The Circulatory System sounds. It's hard to describe, as each song is different from its peers, and there is just so much going on in every song, that it is often hard just to identify which instruments are being played. If asked to liken this band to another though, I would have to go with the most commonly used answers: either The Beatles, or The Beach Boys. However, at times I would say that they sound somewhat similar to The Shins. There is nothing bad I can say about this band, or their CD. I don't mean to sound like an ad for The Circulatory System, but they are just such a staggeringly good band that I can't help myself. They have definitely found a special place in my CD collection.
Discography
Circulatory System
Side One
- yesterday's world
- prehistoric
- diary of wood
- outside blasts
- joy
- the lovely universe
- round
- inside blasts
- illusion
- waves of bark and light
Side Two
- now
- a peek
- fingers
- days to come (in photographs)
- symbols and maps
- the pillow
- stars
- should a cloud replace a compass?
- time or dateline
- how long?
- your paradise
- forever
Here's a list of people involved in their fist production of their first CD:
- Will Hart: voices, guitars, bells, drums, percussion manipulations, electronics, etc.
- John Fernandes: violin, clarinet, chant leader, bass, fuzz bass
- Eric Harris: melodica, drums, bass, the magic tape organ
- Peter Erchick: bass, organ, ukulele
- Jeff Mangum: drums, shortwave, voice
- Heather McIntoch: cello
- Chris Bishop: bass, tambourine
- Julian Koster: bass guitar, sheet metal
- Scott Spillane: bass instruments
- Darrin Cook: double bass
- Todd Welch: trumpets, saxophone
- Robbee Cucchiano: bass instruments
- Jeremy Barnes: drums
- Hannah Jones: voice
- Steven Trimmer: mandolin
- Raleigh Hatfield: organ
- Christina Logan: oboe
- Mike Schwatke: organ
- Andrew Reiger: slide guitar
- Brandon Robertson: bass
- Scott B. Ollar: skembie
Sources:
http://www.elephant6.com/bands/circulatory.html
http://www.cloudrecordings.com