Whereas Xiphiidae (Jeffry Astin, obvs) so often creates very animated atmospheres, this one gets settled in a deep, comfy chair. A collection of recordings spanning the last seven years or so, this album stands out in the way it makes the listener feel planted to one spot.

This album reeks of memories in a very good way. It feels like hearing them through the artist's own ears as he closes his eyes, tilting his head slightly upward. These are a series of soliloquies each passing him. We don't get to remember exactly what they are about, can only sit and watch as history goes by. Audible time-lapse photography. A shack in the woods decaying over time as the forest grows back around it. All sounds are eventually reclaimed.

“Sewn Within a Circle” feels more like a slideshow than reminiscing. There's a sense of pride within each track, no shame in their aging. They march duly by, confirming that they will long remain, heard or not. Yet there is weight, as well, it is still undeniable that these were all recorded earlier. They present a sense of non-linear time, seeing it all spread out. It is difficult to say where it begins and ends. It is all too vast and still feels too recent. 9/10 -- Chad Parsons (3 February, 2010)