As it becomes increasingly apparent that major labels and big-money record company execs are destined to be considered in the past tense, and that the commodification and capitalisation of music and art was simply a brief chapter in the history of music, more and more artists are taking the power back and getting out there are doing everything themselves. Bypassing producers, PR companies and even recording studios - something that can be done without necessarily sounding amateurish thanks to modern technology - musicians, be they individuals or bands are becoming cottage industries. Without having to bend to any kind of commercial pressures, it's possible to retain complete artistic control.
Heart Shaped Circles - the vehicle for the musical vision of 19 year-old John Douglas - are clearly of the cottage industry strain, and also quite obviously in their early stages of development. But what makes this mode of production, free of label and industry pressure, is that artists are able to evolve without being forced to deliver radio-friendly chart hits, and can grow without rapid development being forced upon them.
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'Evelyn's Vineyard' shows ambition and promise. The songs are rough diamonds, and while Douglas may yet be to fully focus his creative bent or forge a truly coherent identity for Heart Shaped Circles - the tracks here spanning simple acoustic folk to fragile shoegaze - there's heart and soul in every track. Isn't that what music should be all about?
www.myspace.com/deartshapedcircles
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