CIRCA SURVIVE - A DREAM ABOUT DEATH EP
After four years, Circa Survive has hit us with TWO EPs in a span of a few months. A Dream About Death steps further into the world of dream pop than its companion, A Dream About Love.
Anthony Green disclosed that he began to work on the EPs while dealing with his recent Bipolar diagnosis, which explains why the EPs were split up the way that they were. He also stated that it was a way for listeners to be able to digest the songs and give them the attention that they deserved.
We can also see that there are two major themes in the album, a break up and addiction.
A Dream About Death pushes Circa Survive into a whole new realm of experimental, but somehow they’ve managed to still bring in their same sound to this beautiful EP. Throughout the album you still hear the amazing guitar riffs, but with a dreamy twist. Green’s signature vocals, along with dreamy instrumentation take you on a journey that starts with ‘Electric Moose’, a song that depicts an abusive relationship, followed by ‘Curitiba’, starting as a ballad that evolves into twinkling synths and thudding drums. We’re also greeted by jazzy soft guitars during ‘Discounts on Psychic Readings’, this song gives me the urge to put my arms up and dance around a little bit. I can only imagine how this song is going to be when Circa Survive decides they’re ready to jump on tour again. We wind down the album with ‘Buzzhenge’, it’s a slow start but it blossoms into a climatic instrumental, which are later met by Green’s iconic screams, the song lulls us to the end of the EP with subdued guitar strings rubbing against the dreamlike synth.
A Dream About Death is melodic but sparkly, Circa Survive is taking risks, and switching things up, but they’re doing it the right way. Much like its predecessor, A Dream About Love, it does not disappoint, it’s a truly beautiful EP that gives so much in such a short amount of time. The evolution of Circa Survive has been amazing so far and I can’t wait to see what else they come up with to follow up these two amazing EPs.
Viviana Mendoza
★★★★☆