Reviewed by Tony Cummings

If you live in the north of England you may well have encountered The Endgame. They've played arts centres, pubs and unis, supported The Blockheads and have played several live sessions for BBC local radio. Now their debut full length album, produced by renowned percussionist Martin Neil and mixed in Los Angeles, comes with the confident swagger of a dues-paying unit. The band take a pretty eclectic approach to their rock art, taking in alternative riffing on "Chains" to acoustic folk rock on "Here Comes The Rain" and the reggae style of "Atmosphere". Throughout Sarah Tyler's husky vocals give the band a distinctive sound and works particularly well on "Hang My Head", driven by a rolling bassline. Maybe 'Shifting Circles' is a bit too scattershot stylistically to become the breakthrough album but their sheer verve and tight professionalism bodes well for future releases.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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