CanadianWasteland Archives: Bread and Circuits

Bread and Circuits was a hardcore band from The Bay Area, California who were active for only a few brief years and split up before their last record was even released. The band included Jose Palafox of Struggle, Manumission, Swing Kids and Yaphet Kotto, Mag Delana of Yaphet Kotto and Sarah Kirsch of Torches To Rome, Navio Forge, John Henry West and Sawhorse.

Bread and Circuits were a spastic blur of rhythmic chaos in their brief existence. Their first record, released on Ebullition was described by the label as picking up where Torches To Rome left off but with a sound that is even more "developed". With melodic, intricate instrumentals and aggressive, bursts of emotional shrieks, Bread And Circuits may be one of my favourite Ebullition releases (which is saying something considering their releases).

Angular riffs and the emotional rawness of Bread and Circuits music make them a staple in the DIY hardcore scene, definitely appealing to fans of any of the members other projects. Sarah Kirsch was one of the most talented musicians out there in the 90s and I haven't heard a project of her's that I didn't like. What often makes or breaks a band for me is their passion and the level of genuine emotion they pour into their songwriting, and Bread and Circuits blows me away in this department. Somehow both sporadically chaotic and incredibly tight, Bread and Circuits definitely deserves your attention.