A Perfect Circle
Mer de Noms

THE REVIEW

"The process by which I create with Tool is organic but at the same time very laborious. It is a process typical of the left hemisphere of the brain, which involves dividing what we do and drawing from other material; it's research-oriented and esoteric. With APC the process is much more mechanical and computer-oriented but at the same time much more emotional and intuitive. Tool is a masculine result typical of the left hemisphere of the brain while APC is a feminine one typical of the right".
(Maynard James Keenan)

The stunning body of a girl that seems to embrace the wall of a sound-proofed room; the drumbeat pierces my ear. It conveys a certain energy... I should be less skeptical but I can't help comparing them. It's a pity because this was beautiful.
I keep letting my eyes wander over the images in the booklet; a hypnotic litany, a handkerchief recites words that Keenan sings angrily: "I'd sell my soul, my self esteem..." he weaves them on disturbing yet harmoniously distorted soundscapes.

I begin to find my way in this river of runes; a dragonfly suggests I listen to "Brena." The strings vibrate warmly, blending and intertwining with a voice: "My reflection wraps and pulls me under healing waters to be bathed in Breña". Sometimes it almost seems like I hear her cry. Full lips curved in a grimace that seem to liquefy, fade into purplish drips; the spread tentacles of a threatening octopus: "Orestes"; a watery path contaminated by flows of liquid metal and: "And I don't wanna feel this overwhelming hostility because I don't wanna feel this overwhelming hostility” ...as usual, it knows how to reach incredible emotional peaks.

A cross between a tapir and a cow; the face of a Crucified Christ; the face of a woman; a very melodic CD.
It doesn't claim to be particularly innovative yet I find it original in its own way, I find it very beautiful.
Electric guitar, voice, and violin coalesced in perfect eurythmy; the drums seemed a bit "intrusive" to me.
Great sounds... maybe some unfortunate choices (they could have avoided ruining "Over" with that damn xylophone).

Really good work... A tree that obscures a dying sunset; play of shadows and lights; an eye; engravings that intersect to form a triangle... "3 Libras." At the beginning, the violin blowing through the arpeggios and at the end a voice, that voice that screams: "You don’t, you don’t, you don’t, see me! You don’t, you don’t, you don’t, see me! You don’t, you don’t, you don’t, see me at all"...