Currently unavailable.
We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock.
Select delivery location

Valley Of The Windmill

Circa Format: Audio CD
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 66 ratings
See all 4 formats and editions Hide other formats and editions
Listen Now with Amazon Music
Valley of the Windmill Amazon Music Unlimited
Price
New from Used from
MP3 Music, July 8, 2016
$9.49
$9.49 —
Audio CD, Import, June 17, 2016
$88.40
$88.00 —
Audio CD, February 1, 2017
—
— —

Track Listings

1 Silent Resolve
2 Empire Over
3 Valley of the Windmill
4 Our Place Under the Sun

Editorial Reviews

Circa is a progressive rock supergroup founded by former Yes member Tony Kaye (keyboards), current Yes member Billy Sherwood (guitar, vocals), with Scott Connor on drums and Ricky Tierney on bass. Valley of the Windmill can be described as super proggy with influences ranging from classic Yes and Gentle Giant, to Porcupine Tree and Marillion. An absolute must for all Prog Rock fans!

Product details

  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.58 x 4.92 x 0.37 inches; 3.52 ounces
  • Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ FRONTIERS MUSIC SRL
  • Original Release Date ‏ : ‎ 2017
  • Date First Available ‏ : ‎ April 25, 2016
  • Label ‏ : ‎ FRONTIERS MUSIC SRL
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01ERKYDU6
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 66 ratings

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
66 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Rich D.
5.0 out of 5 stars Circa finds their groove with longer form music
Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2016
Verified Purchase
Circa has really hit their stride with this offering, and thankfully, have eased from short and tight songs to longer form music. It really pays off as they give enough twists and turns to keep the music lively. Like most music from Yes alumni, it took me several listens before I fell in love with it. This is something I go through with every prog album; I need to hear it many times to "get" the music, and then I'm all in. The revelation in this album is definitely Tony Kaye's wonderful keyboards. I think he has been seriously over-underestimated by keyboard snobs for years (I went through that phase myself), but I have long come to realize this is unjustified. I feel vindicated with this album, because Kaye has really found a groove, inhabiting the sweet spot of every piece. That said, the other players turn in great performances as well, it just pleases me much more to hear Mr. Kaye given the space to explore, which was probably harder to do in the shorter songs of prior work. One small critique is that all the players have times where they are just "noodling," which makes me wish they had had a brutal producer who would make them cut that out. That isn't a dealbreaker, though, and I really love this music. I hope they stick with longer form music on their next outing. If you don't like it on the first listen, I encourage you to keep with it, as it really grew on me. I hope you enjoy!
9 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Gotta love old prog heads
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2017
Verified Purchase
Did not purchase this album on the strength of YES connections but solely because of the lengthy tracks and only four of them!! Gotta love old prog heads.
Took a few listens to appreciate it totally but I knew from the first listen that it would grow on me, as all the best albums do.
Tony Kaye's keyboards are a revelation and Billy Sherwood's guitar just magic. Obviously neither would be complete with Scott Connor {drums} and Rick Tierney {bass}. The sound reminds me of the one-and-only Badger album but I much prefer VOTW
If I have a criticism it is that some of the lyrics are quite simplistic and totally unengaging, the music however more than makes up this. Perhaps more instrumental next time out.
VOTW is my least favourite track purely on the basis of the above criticism. The opener, Silent Resolve gently pulled me into this album and at 14+minutes it remains my favourite track even after several listens.
This was my first venture into Circa but shall not be my last.
Just heard YES are to be inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame despite having only one hit single!!
5 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
SoundDiscoveries
5.0 out of 5 stars Closest to getting Blown Away!
Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2021
Verified Purchase
I rated this release by Billy Sherwood's band Circa five stars because it is the closet to great neo-prog as you are going to get from all of their releases. They manage to get back to writing longer pieces with believe it or not, the bass out front where it should be. I did not find this the case with all of their other releases. Some constructive criticism would be that many of Billy's projects have a similar sound, which is true. With this CD, I did not find that to be the case. The only other Billy Sherwood projects that would top this would be Conspiracy with Chris Squire from Yes and Citizen which is the last recording of Chris before he passed away. Pick this up if you like decent neo-prog that is enjoyable to listen to.
Helpful
 Report
VITSOL
4.0 out of 5 stars Billy Sherwood keeps getting better
Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2016
Verified Purchase
This is some really good neo-prog (for lack of a better term) along with some great vocal harmonies. There are only four songs on this one, but none are less than 7 minutes each, with two being of epic lengths. Lots of room to stretch out instrumentally. Now if only Billy Sherwood can bring this song writing ability to the current version of Yes, it would be worth looking forward to see them in concert again. As for now, I will take ARW any day over what is now called Yes.
Helpful
 Report
NEOPROG RAN
5.0 out of 5 stars Valley of the Prog
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2017
Verified Purchase
Awesome prog by two Yes men- one former and one current. As a matter of fact, this disc is better than anything Yes has done in years. Proggers and lovers of Yes should buy now!! I was pleasantly surprised by this great CD. Billy does his best Howe, the bass player tears it up and the drummer is solid. Also, Tony Kaye is the man on the keys and has many great moments. This is the Yes album we have been waiting for since The Ladder.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
John S. Kuehne
5.0 out of 5 stars Very dynamic interesting album
Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2016
Verified Purchase
Really loving this album! Very dynamic and intriguing 50+ minutes of well crafted music.
With the quality musicianship that you would expect from a band with so much amazing collective talent. Great to hear Tony Kaye still rocking the Hammond and Keys in 2016! Some very nice melodies and vocals all over the album. It's a great high energy, uplifting well produced album.
Get it!
19 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Kevin Hay
2.0 out of 5 stars More 70s rehash that misses the point of 'progressive'
Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2018
Verified Purchase
More bland 70s rehash.At least I got it cheep.Billy Sherwood is doing great in Yes but if they let him have to much influence on the music,it's over.
Helpful
 Report
Mark MCF
5.0 out of 5 stars Valley of Excellence!
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2017
Verified Purchase
This is a great Progressive Rock album. If like me, you think that Yes have lost their way, this is the sign post back to where they belong. Former Yes Men Billy Sherwood and Tony Kaye lead the charge. Love their live album too. Not just a spinoff band, but a solid group doing what Yes ought to be doing.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Luigi
2.0 out of 5 stars Occasione mancata
Reviewed in Italy on February 27, 2023
Verified Purchase
Tanti talenti per un disco moscio. Ridondante e privo di identità. Un gran polpettone indigesto. Peccato.
Report
Domingo J.
4.0 out of 5 stars Yesss
Reviewed in Spain on July 3, 2021
Verified Purchase
Un spin-off de yes, con un toque personal.
Report
Gnoflwag
2.0 out of 5 stars Penetrant nervender Gesang
Reviewed in Germany on December 13, 2020
Verified Purchase
"Valley of the windmill" ist zwar rein handwerklich wieder sehr gut eingespielt, aber es fehlt der Musik trotzdem irgendwas - alles wirkt zu konstruiert, zu gewollt, zu synthetisch oder vollkommen überproduziert.
Wäre ich Prog-Musikprofessor, dann würde ich meinen Studenten Circa: als Negativbeispiel dafür präsentieren, wie man es nicht machen sollte...
Der nervige Sherwood-Gesang wirkt schnell sehr penetrant und ich war schon nach 2 Tracks genervt davon.
Dann kommt der 3. Song, der wohl als Ballade gedacht war, aber bei mir nur Übelkeit hervorgerufen hat, denn die Stimme des Sängers, die ständig penetranten Gesangs-Arrangements, der synthetische Sound und das Fehlen von jeglichen Pausen in der Musik werden nach wenigen Minuten schier unerträglich und lassen den Blutdruck gefährlich ansteigen. Es ist einfach zu viel von allem und alles auf einmal ohne jegliche Pausen. Ich werde in diesem Leben definitiv kein Billy Sherwood-Fan mehr.
Man könnte auch sagen, diese Musik klingt wie ein billiger Aufguss der Yes-Alben aus den 80ern und 90ern, nur nerviger und noch weniger relevant.
Am Schluß habe ich das komische Gefühl meine wertvolle Lebenszeit beim Hören vergeudet zu haben, obwohl ich diese Art von Musik (Progressive Rock) normalerweise schon mag. Aber es kommt bei Musik halt doch mehr auf das Wie und nicht auf das Was an.
Report
Dave Punter
5.0 out of 5 stars Billy keeps it going
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 19, 2020
Verified Purchase
I love the Circa albums, and they are getting progressively better (no pun intended). Billy Sherwood is a prog champion, cropping up everywhere from Yes, Conspiracy to Nektar, and Circa of course, helping to keep the essence of true prog going. There is some criticism that some of these tracks are too long for the sake of it, but its great stuff so the longer the better for me...

Great album, with highly distinctive Tony Kaye keyboards and great Squire/Anderson inspired harmonies...
One person found this helpful
 Report
LUIS
5.0 out of 5 stars El mejor y más accesible disco de CIRCA:
Reviewed in Mexico on August 28, 2017
Verified Purchase
Con elementos actuales y pasados de YES de antemano se sabe que este disco tendrá buena música y la verdad ni decepciona. Progresivo pero muy accesible y melódico con excelente ejecución en todos los instrumentos. Si te gusta YES y el Rock Progresivo en general te gustará este disco.
Report