Disengage by Circle of Dust (Review)

Disengage always felt like Circle of Dust’s “lost” album to me, thanks to its troubled history. After several delays, it was eventually released by Flying Tart Records in 1998, only for the label to fold a few weeks later, thus leaving the album in limbo. It eventually found its way onto YouTube, but I’ve been excited to finally hear the “authoritative” Disengage as part of this year’s Circle of Dust reissues.

Disengage can be uneven, but it’s undeniable that Klayton was trying to push himself musically on the album. “Babylon” and “Thulcandra” are more ambient, cinematic, and abstract than anything else in Circle of Dust’s catalog, IDM beats appear across the album, and one can hear rap’s influence in Klayton’s delivery on “Waste of Time” and “Yurasuka.” There’s even a ballad (“Mesmerized”) for good measure.

However, Disengage’s strongest moments — e.g., “Refractor,” “Chasm” — hew closest to Circle of Dust’s patented blend of industrial and metal. The latter is particularly noteworthy: a perfect blend of aggressive beats and electronics, crunchy guitars, and catchy hooks, it might be my favorite Circle of Dust song, period.

Like previous Circle of Dust reissues, Disengage is packed with bonus tracks, alternate versions, outtakes, and remixes. The “deluxe” edition — which I’ve embedded below — contains three discs’ worth of material, including “Machines of Our Disgrace,” a single from the first Circle of Dust album in nearly two decades (due out this December).