When The Tea Party decided to name their latest album "The Seven Circles" the reason seemed obvious. After all this was their 7th full length album. Like so many things associated with the band, however, there are many levels to the explanation. The name and cover art also refers to kaballah, alchemy, the seven stages of being, the harmony of the seven spheres and, possibly, even the writings of Dante. As in the past the band prefers for their fans to discover the title's and the music’s meaning for themselves, to dig down and find a personal meaning.

This album marks a turning point for the band or as they put it, a shift in consciousness. As they were writing this album over the course of the last two and a half years their manager and friend, Steve Hoffman, was battling and eventually losing the fight with cancer. This is the sort of trauma that might have led the band to dark thoughts but, instead, they've written the happiest sounding album of their career.

As Jeff Martin has said repeatedly in recent interviews, this album is all about lightening up and embracing the happiness in life or, as Jeff Burrows chimed in, tongue firmly in cheek, it's about the lighter side of decadence. They feel they've thoroughly explored the darker and sexy side of various esoteric philosophies but they're in a different space now and the album reflects that.

For the first time the band gave total control over the production of several songs to an outside producer, Bob Rock (Metallica, Our Lady Peace) and this collaboration resulted in “The Watcher”, “Coming Back Again” and “Overload”. This was something Steve had encouraged them to do since he felt it was time to bring in fresh ears. The other songs were co-produced by Jeff Martin and up and coming producer, Gavin Brown.

Another first for the band came when they brought Holly McNarland in to sing a duet with Jeff. The result, “Wishing You Would Stay” has a special beauty as Holly’s voice provides a perfect foil for Jeff’s.

The resulting album is not only happier but much more accessible, leading some longtime fans to accuse them of selling out in order to make a bid for the US market. Other fans embrace this album as a true Tea Party original. From the opening chords of the hard rocking "Writing's on the Wall" through to the fade away of the title track, "Seven Circles" this is without a doubt a Tea Party album and it is also, without a doubt, different from all the rest.

"Writing's on the Wall" and "Overload" have a rock swagger that hasn't been heard since the band's album "Transmission" while tender ballads like "Oceans", which was written on the day Steve died, "The Watcher" and "Wishing You Would Stay" remind people of "Triptych" and "Interzone Mantras". "Coming Back Again" has a hypnotic thump to it that works like a mantra but "One Step Closer Away" has an equally hypnotic musical hook of a completely different sort. "Stargazer" is easily the happiest song the band has produced while “Empty Glass” pays tribute to one of the band’s inspirations, David Bowie and asks how today’s music can be like Bowie in his ability to reinvent himself and stay fresh and relevant.

This album sees the band moving even further away from their eastern sound although "Luxuria" and "Seven Circles" have some eastern infusions. In fact "Seven Circles" can almost be seen as a Tea Party Sampler since it starts with eastern instruments and tunings, moves to acoustic guitar and thoughtful lyrics alternating with heavy rock and finishes with a beautiful blues-inspired guitar solo.
This album is there best since “Transmission” and is clearly the culmination of a creative process begun with “Triptych” and continued with “Interzone Mantras”. As the last notes fade into the distance, its hard not to wonder what this band will reveal to fans next.