Just a quick note really.  As you may or may not be aware, I really, really like A Perfect Circle.  Whilst everyone was waiting for a new Tool album, Mer De Noms really appeared out of nowhere and became, at least to me, one of the most unique albums of its time.

Billy Howerdell, founder / main writer behind A Perfect Circle is working on a new project at the moment called Ashes Divide.  Horrible horrible name.  The music however?  A Perfect Circle without Maynard James Keenan.  Billy performs vocals, guitar and bass on the debut CD "Keep Telling Myself It's Alright" and "checking to see if the album has appeared on the Internet" is rapidly becoming my favourite hobby at the moment in the run up to it's April 8th release.  Suffice to say, I have a very large amount of anticipation and faith riding on this CD being something worthwhile.

The first single "The Stone" was released to radio a month or two ago, actually being a re-mastered and re-paced version of an early APC demo known as "Army", with some lyrics added and the tone lightened ever so slightly.  Happy rock this is not, but while a little different in tone to the darker demo it's a good, excellently produced lead single.  That said, today samples of the entire album appeared on amazon and thankfully I'm still just as excited as I was.  Really reminds me of Mer De Noms, and if it's anywhere near as good it'll probably be the best thing you'll hear this year.

A Perfect Circle - The Hollow (Live on Letterman)

Ashes Divide - The Stone (the link refuses to embed)