By Keith Walsh
Located around Berlin, Germany, and Catania, Italy, the duo of Circolo Vizioso is comprised of Tony Scafidi (guitar, bass, vocals, kick drum, hi hat) and Paul Geigerzaehler (violin, snare drum, vocals). They create a minimalist sound with an emotional effect that’s much more than the sum of the parts. This synergy is a product of inspired performances, particularly in the vocals and violin, dirtied up instrument sounds, and the pure passion of the songs themselves. (My Q and A with Tony and Paul is at Punkrockbeat.com.)
Their new six-song set, Verrueckt, captures a moment in time in Europe, though the themes are universal. Verrueckt is the German word for “crazy.” The title track sounds like the emotional pain it describes lyrically, with kick drum, scratchy guitar and vocal, recalling the frenetic new wave and art rock coming out of Britain and New York City in the late 1970s. There’s a lo-fi approach and experimental instrumentation that pushes this album into the experimental zone. When the anxious vocals come in, new levels of drama pour out of the speakers. Loud whispered background vocals by Audrey Houillon on this track add even more excitement.
“Choppy” describes the piecemeal emotional struggles that come after a broken relationship…it’s pure punk guitar, with Geigerzaehler’s violin sonorities adding another layer of ragged energy.
The dirty guitar is overlayed with forlorn, English vocals, with Syd Barrett stylings.
“Walls” talks about isolation, with just kick, snare and distorted guitar. It’s all minimalist, while the gang vocals in the choruses make it an anthem of sorts. “Stein” translates to ‘stone,’ and it’s got a bit of Irish melody in the violin. Even though I don’t know what the words are about, the emotions of the music and vocals combined suggest anxiety, but that’s true of all of Verrueckt, where distorted vocals are part of the aesthetic, and you don’t need to understand all of them to get the meaning. “Stein” has a bit of Sex Pistols in it.
“Wer schuld Ist” means ‘who is to blame?’ It’s an important question. In the voice I hear anger, despair. This one is very punky. The violin gets more intense as it rises in pitch and speed, and the frantic rhythm and notes add to the melodic narrative.
The final track, “Haeuser,” (houses) features English vocals about social anxiety and the words “our houses will stick together/our houses will fight forever.” The medieval concept of loyalty is at play here, and the courage to unite in, and against craziness. There’s violin, kick and that tonally rich distorted guitar, in a song that leans into noise rock. The D.I.Y. spirit of this album and the wild energy are both raw elements that work together as a cathartic work about the existential crises facing not only European artists but all of us, to a certain degree. Verrueckt was recorded at Studio B in Berlin, and mixed and mastered at Tommi Boy Studio in Catania, Italy.
Circolo Vizioso on Bandcamp
Circolo Vizioso on Spotify
Circolo Vizioso on Apple Music
Circolo Vizioso on Amazon Music
Circolo Vizioso on Facebook
Circolo Vizioso on Instagram
Q and A With Circolo Vizioso On PunkRockBeat.com
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