THE FIRST GOODBYE

Cirkel was a short-lived Dutch Prog act from the town of Gorinchem.They were active during the early-80's, feauring Hans den Hartog on guitars/keyboards, Hennie van Mourik on lead vocals/bass, Chris van Hoogdalem on guitars and Ad Struijk of the Art/Punk Rock group The Divorce on drums.Their sole album ''The first goodbye'' was recorded at the Ballad Sound Studio in Vuren and was a private 83' release on Goodbye Records.Reinier Bruijns contributed his acoustic guitar on one track.

Similar-sounding with tons of other 80's bands influenced by Classic Prog, Cirkel played a melodic Neo Prog with sensitive vocals and interesting instrumental variety, split in two different styles.Some tracks are fairly symphonic with good keyboard layers and evident inspirations from bands like GENESIS and CAMEL, performed in the way Prog music was delivered in the 80's, which was shorter arrangements with less emphasis on impressive technique and a tendency towards more melodious textures.Very good guitar solos and some strong symphonic flavors in the more synth-based passages are the definite highlights of these pieces.The rest of the album presents a more early TWELFTH NIGHT-oriented music, where the Prog stylings are combined with slight influences from Punk and New Wave.The music is relying on pounding grooves, more nervous synth experiments and beating drum parts with Cirkel trying to be up-to-date with the music aesthetics of the time.But even these pieces contain some brilliant, soaring guitar work and artistic arrangements, held down by the cheesy use of keyboards in moments.Each style is well-performed with alternating dramatic and pleasant moods, although the more Classic Prog-influenced side fits better within the talents of the band.

After the disbanding of Cirkel, Chris Van Hoogdalem continued his prog venue with Maryson and later with Ice, where he met again with his Cirkel bandmate Hennie van Mourik.

The CD reissue of the album contains a pair of bonus tracks, recorded at the same studio in 1984 and more or less following the same musical path.Anyway, this is a warmly recommended album to all fans of Neo Prog or Melodic Progressive Rock.