Cercle Odyssey reviewed

Shafts of light, ethereal music set to pounding beats and paired with dynamic photography captured in remote locations—the Cercle Odyssey concerts landed in Los Angeles after a successful debut in Mexico. A series of Paris concerts will follow.

The innovative concept behind the Cercle Odyssey project was not only to combine stunning visuals with live music performance, but to ensconce the assembled audience within the vibrant space and then take them, as a group, on a grand, shared journey. Cercle’s groundbreaking 360° immersive concert series successfully combines music, technology with visual storytelling.

By depriving everyone of immediate access to their phones, the model succeeds brilliantly; never have I seen an audience so engaged, so chill and so present.

Somehow, a vast room within the LA Convention Center became an intimate venue, surrounded by massive screen walls and ceiling, with the raised stage in the center. Moby was our headliner last Friday. Supporting act Eli & Fur kicked off the late evening with their dreamy DJ set. Delivering a solid 30 minutes of dance music, they created a mesmerizing fusion of beats, soundscapes, and cutting-edge technology. Deep house and melodic techno were seamlessly blended with haunting live vocals, analog synthesizers, and MIDI controllers.

An electronic duo who hail from London, the pair have been making music together since they met in college. Eli & Fur’s DJ sets are known for their blend of electronic music styles, incorporating elements of tech-house, and occasionally pop accents. On Friday their unique sonic aesthetic wove a sense of mystery and intrigue through soaring, evocative vocals, lush cascading synths, and deep, rolling basslines.

Anticipation was high for Moby’s entrance. Accompanied by his singers and musicians on violins, bass, keyboard, the artist took to the stage with gusto. Sound and vision converged. The 2300 m² of 8K projection screens enveloped the venue, displaying breathtaking visuals, captured by Paris-based filmmaker Neels Castillon, that synchronized seamlessly with Moby’s eclectic set. The 72 L-Acoustics speakers, utilizing L-ISA spatial audio technology, delivered a multidimensional soundscape that made each note feel alive and encompassing. Castillon’s rich cinematic approach and deep sensitivity to atmosphere and location proved that he was the ideal partner to help shape the ethereal visual language of Cercle Odyssey.

Background:

Moby was one of the first artists to bring electronic music into the mainstream in the U.S. during the 1990s and early 2000s. His breakout album Play (1999) fused ambient, techno, and downtempo with samples of early American folk and blues—a groundbreaking blend at the time. 

Moby’s music often carries deep emotional undercurrents, blending melancholic melodies with uplifting or introspective themes. Songs like “Porcelain,” “Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?,” and “Extreme Ways” showcase his ability to merge electronic production with raw human feeling.

At the heart of this high-concept experience is the challenge of inserting a narrative into an immersive spectacle by instilling an extravagantly-staged live visual and aural entertainment with an emotional thread. For this aspect, the artists selected Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey. As the director explained in our interview, “Weaving a narrative into such an immersive spectacle was a massive challenge — especially creating a storyline that could support the music without overpowering it. The storytelling exists in service of the music, allowing it to breathe and lead the emotional journey. At the same time, the music amplifies the images, and many of the artists involved — like Moby, for example — have deeply cinematic styles that naturally elevate the visual narrative.”

A modern odyssey, inspired by the myth of Odysseus, the ballet was filmed in exotic locations, granting us unparalleled views of the golden sands in the Namib Desert, arctic-like desolation of the Icelandic highlands, the lush rainforests of the Marquesas Islands, and the other-worldly Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia — a surreal, infinite mirror where earth and sky merge into one.

At one point, the vista of asteroids drifting through space behind the band gave the impression the stage was slowly rotating as well. Trippy stuff!

Title cards act as chapter breaks before each stage of the visual journey, with excerpts from Homer’s epic poem. Unfortunately, the text was not displayed long enough to support the narrative underpinning the ballet.

Nevertheless, what we got was a spiritual journey imbued with atmospheric soundscapes, evocative vocals, and a captivating and immersive experience on the dance floor. Both calming and euphoric — a kind of poetic escape — it was a transcendent musical experience.

About the Artists behind Cercle:

Derek Barbolla  

Derek Barbolla is the Founder and Creative Director of Cercle, the boundary-pushing creative force behind some of the world’s most unforgettable musical experiences. From breathtaking concerts in remote natural wonders to immersive audio-visual journeys, Cercle has redefined what a live music event can be—and Derek is the visionary behind it all.

He grew up just outside Paris in a warm, multicultural (Franco-Argentinean) home that was steeped in creativity and emotion. With an actor for a father and a psychoanalyst for a mother, Derek was naturally encouraged to explore art, emotion, and expression from a young age. He studied music theory throughout his childhood, eventually going on to earn a degree in Cinema Studies from Sorbonne University—laying the foundation for his deep understanding of narrative and visual storytelling.

Long before founding Cercle, Derek got an early start in the tech world. At just 18, he dove into the emerging world of artificial intelligence, working in machine learning and later joining VirtuOz, a software company that specialized in AI-driven virtual agents for customer service. It was there that he began to see how digital communication and technology could transform human experiences—an idea that would eventually shape Cercle’s tech-forward approach to immersive music events.

Driven by a passion for creativity, production, and culture, Derek launched Cercle—a project that began with intimate, live-streamed sets in iconic locations and has since grown into a global phenomenon. Today, the Cercle universe includes Cercle Moments, Cercle Records, and the breathtaking Cercle Odyssey—all celebrating the fusion of music, heritage, and innovation.

When it comes to music, Derek’s taste is wildly eclectic. He grew up on everything from Bach and Vivaldi to Ray Charles, and he’s just as inspired by French and American rap, indie, reggaeton, electronic, soul, Afrobeat, and more. His vision is clear: to dissolve the boundaries between genres and create a space where sound knows no limits.

Neels Castillon

Neels Castillon, a Paris-based film director, was the perfect choice to help launch Cercle Odyssey. Known for his poetic visual storytelling and love for wild, natural settings, Neels brings a cinematic eye that beautifully matches Cercle’s immersive vision. His work often explores the deep connection between humans and nature, and his ability to film in raw, challenging environments adds a visceral dimension to his projects.

An award-winning director and recipient of the Young Guns Award by The One Club for Creativity in New York (which highlights top talent under 30), Neels has built a diverse portfolio—from short films and documentaries to high-end commercials and music videos. He’s worked with global brands like Meta, Louis Vuitton, Chloé, and Hennessy, and collaborated with artists like Hania Rani, Ólafur Arnalds, and Alicia Keys—always bringing a thoughtful, emotional, and visually compelling lens to each project.

Castillon’s work includes award-winning shorts, music videos, feature documentaries, and collaborations with global brands like Louis Vuitton, Meta, and Audemars Piguet. In 2022, he became a member of the Directors Guild of America (DGA). Castillon is also a co-founder of Motion Palace, a Paris-based, globally operating creative studio dedicated to creating powerful content for the arts, brands, and cultural institutions.

Motion Palace works in collaboration with the Ridley Scott Creative Group. Castillon enjoys shooting with artists and athletes, and especially dancers, who are his main source of inspiration. A sought-after director, his commissions range from worldwide commercial campaigns to official music videos and award-winning experimental shorts often filmed in challenging environments.