Into a Circle

Into A Circle (In Two A Circle, In2a0) were an English New Wave/Goth duo, formed in April 1985 by Bee (Paul Hampshire) and Barry (Jepson), two former members of Getting the Fear.

Career

Lyrically and in attitude, they were influenced by Brion Gysin and his frequent collaborator William S. Burroughs. Particularly in respect to their use of North African folklore (the stories, for instance, of 11th Century Ismaili warrior, Hassan-i-Sabah) and magical rituals (such as that of the goat-boy-god, Boujeloud).

After writing and rehearsing for some months the band played their first concert at the Croydon Underground in December 1985, just prior to the release of their first single "Rise". Bee and Barry undertook the production, artwork and layouts. "Rise" quickly sold out (it was a limited pressing of 5,000 copies) and a short tour of England and Scotland followed in March 1986. The band was joined on three dates (and subsequent ones) by Rose McDowall, from Strawberry Switchblade.

In July 1986 a deal was signed with Abstract Records, followed by the release of their next single, "Inside Out". This was a success and live dates over the Christmas period followed. However this highlighted Bee and Barry's dissatisfaction with working with session musicians, and the band spent some time rehearsing and producing a new live format.

The third single "Forever" was a reflection of the band's new direction, and featured Rose McDowall on backing vocals. It was co-produced by Larry Steinbeck from Bronski Beat, and was a taster for their debut album Assassins which was released in the summer of 1988. The album was promoted by a constant touring schedule.

A second single from the album, "Evergreen" was released in the autumn, which like all previous releases entered the Top 20 of the UK Indie Chart, staying there for a number of weeks.

Bee and Barry carried on working together for a number of years following these releases, but none of the material produced ever reached the public.

A rumoured support slot with Erasure on their 'Innocents' tour was quashed, when record label executives refused to financially back them.

In September 1989, Into A Circle took to the road one last time, supported by Sins of the Flesh. Annie Anxiety joined the line-up on backing vocals. Adding to new material were complete reworkings of earlier Getting the Fear songs; "Sometimes" and "Yurune".

The band broke up in October 1989.

Bee now resides in Thailand, where he is a member of electro-rock band, GOO, alongside Simon Gilbert from Suede. Barry still lives in the UK, where he is a tour manager.

Discography

12" singles

• "Rise" (1985, Arcadia, ARC001) "Rise", "And In Flames", "Gabriel"
• "Inside Out" (1986, Abstract, 12ABS042) "Inside Out", "Reward", "Flow", "Field of Sleep"
• "Forever" (1987 Abstract 12ABS044) "Forever" (remix), "Forever", "O Siren"
• "Evergreen" (1988 Abstract 12ABS050) "Evergreen", "Beirut (The Amahl of Youth)", "Evergreen" (12" mix)

Albums

• Assassins (1988, Abstract ABT018)
  • "Beneath Mikhail", "Over + Over", "The Swinging Tree", "'Elim", "Forever", "Allah Akhbar", "Tender Skin", "Evergreen", "Assassins", "Seraphin Twin"
• Tapes (demos and lives, available only at live concerts)
• Live (Nottingham Rock City, February 1987)
  • "Dune Buggy Attack", "Mercenaries", "Little Fishes", "O Siren", "Forever", "Field of Sleep", "Stitches", "Beneath Mikhail", "Judas", "Inside Out"
• Homelands
  • "Inner Field of Sleep", "Mercenaries", "O Siren", "Beneath Mikhail", "And In Flames", "Attica", "Judas", "Forever", "Flow", "Wish I Was Dreaming"
• Thai Tapes
  • "Evergreen", "Tender Skin", "Forever", "Beneath Mikhail", "The Swinging Tree", "Assassins", "Over + Over", "The Hunger"
• Live (available for download at the Live Music Archive at www.archive.org)
• Leicester Fan Club 18 March 1987
  • "Mercenaries", "Little Fishes", "Field of Sleep", "O Siren", "Forever", "Stitches", "Beneath Mikhail", "Judas", "Inside Out"