Circle (band)
Circle | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Pori, Finland |
Genres | Experimental rock |
Years active | 1991–present |
Labels | Bad Vugum |
Website | www |
Members | Jussi Lehtisalo Mika Rättö Janne Westerlund Tomi Leppänen Julius Jääskeläinen Pekka Jääskeläinen Tuomas Laurila |
Past members | Olli Joukio Teemu Korpipää Jyrki Laiho Jani Viitanen Teemu Elo Janne Peltomäki Janne Tuomi Bruce Duff |
Circle is a Finnish experimental rock band formed in Pori in 1991.[1] Their eclectic, ever-changing style has been associated with genres such as krautrock, heavy metal, progressive rock, and ambient.[citation needed] On some albums they have defined themselves as New Wave of Finnish Heavy Metal (NWOFHM).[2]
Biography[]
Circle was formed in 1992 by bassist and singer Jussi Lehtisalo,[3] the only member who has been in the band throughout its career. Circle's krautrock-style debut album Meronia was released in 1994 and featured lyrics in a made-up language. A trio of albums, Andexelt (1999), Prospekt (2000), and Taantumus (2001), brought them international attention. Since recording 2002's Sunrise, the core line-up has consisted of Lehtisalo with keyboard player and singer Mika Rättö, drummer , and guitarist Janne Westerlund, playing more heavy metal-oriented music though continuously influenced by krautrock band Faust.[3] Since 2009, and have appeared on all recordings by the band. Sound engineer and musician/composer is also credited as a member of the band on a number of releases.
Circle member have participated in a great number of side projects and split-offs, including stoner rock spin-off Pharaoh Overlord.[3] Rättö and Lehtisalo play as a duo, Rättö ja Lehtisalo, and as a trio with Kauko Röyhkä. Other projects featuring members of Circle include Steel Mammoth, Ektroverde, Janne Westerlund's , Lusiferiinin Armosta, K-X-P, Aavikko, Lehtisalofamily, Split Cranium Moon Fog Prophet, and Doktor Kettu.
Whilst recording the album Miljard in 2006 the band was filmed by , and the resulting movie, released as a DVD, by (2007). Lönnberg's attempt to make the film itself became the subject of another movie, , filmed by , which has also been released as a DVD by Fonal Records (2010). The band are also closely associated with the filmmaker Mika Taanila: in 2011 they provided a live soundtrack to his 1998 silent film Pori (released as an album, ); and in 2012 recorded several new tracks for Six Day Run, also released subsequently as an album.
In 2011 Circle/Pharaoh Overlord were artists-in-residence at Dutch rock festival Roadburn Festival.[4] The group made its 32nd full-length album, Terminal, available for streaming on Soundcloud shortly before its official release on Southern Lord Records on June 23, 2017.[5]
Due for release on Weird World (an imprint of Domino Records) in late November 2021 Henki, a collaborative album made with Richard Dawson, was announced in September 2021.[6]
Discography[]
Albums[]
- 1994 Meronia, CD/2LP (Bad Vugum), 2007 CD re-issue ()
- 1996 Zopalki, CD/2LP (Bad Vugum), 2012 CD re-issue ()
- 1996 Hissi, CD (Metamorphos / (Japan))
- 1997 Fraten, CD (Metamorphos)
- 1998 Pori, CD (Metamorphos), 2000 CD (Feldspar (USA))
- 1998 Kollekt, compilation CD (Bad Vugum)
- 1999 Andexelt, CD (Metamorphos), 2000 CD (tUMULt)
- 2000 Prospekt CD (), 2002 2LP (Static Resonance)
- 2001 Taantumus, CD (Bad Vugum)
- 2002 , CD (), 2006 2LP (Headspin)
- 2002 Alotus, CD (Klangbad)
- 2003 Guillotine, CD (), 2005 CD (Scratch)
- 2004 , CD (), 2005 CD ()
- 2005 Tulikoira, CD (), 2007 2LP + 7" (Headspin)
- 2006 Miljard, 2CD ()
- 2006 Tyrant, CD (Latitudes)
- 2007 Tower feat. Verde, CD (Last Visible Dog)
- 2007 Panic, CD ()
- 2007 Katapult, CD/LP ()
- 2008 Hollywood, CD/2LP ()
- 2010 Rautatie, CD ()
- 2011 Infektio, CD/LP (Conspiracy Records)
- 2011 , MC (Ruton Music)
- 2011 Rakkaus tulessa feat. Erkki Kurenniemi, LP ()
- 2011 feat. Verde, MC (Ruton Music)
- 2012 , LP (Hydra Head Records)
- 2013 , with Mamiffer, CD/LP ()
- 2013 , CD/LP ()
- 2013 , as "Falcon (ex-Circle)", CD/LP ()
- 2014 , as "Circle (ex-Falcon)", CD/LP ()
- 2015 , CD/LP ()[6]
- 2017 Terminal, CD/LP (Southern Lord Records)
Live albums[]
- 1998 Surface, split w. , CD (Metamorphos / Captain Trip (Japan))
- 2001 Raunio, CD (), 2002 CD (Squealer Music)
- 2004 Golem / Vesiliirto, 2LP (Kevyt Nostalgia / )
- 2004 Empire, LP (Riot Season)
- 2004 Mountain, LP (Kevyt Nostalgia / )
- 2005 General, LP (Kevyt Nostalgia / )
- 2006 Arkades, LP (Fourth Dimension Records), 2007 2CD (Fourth Dimension Records)
- 2007 The Blaze Game, as "Sunburned Circle" with Sunburned Hand of the Man, CD/LP (Conspiracy)
- 2007 Telescope, 2CD (Sunhair) Recorded in 2003
- 2007 Rakennus, CD ()
- 2008 Triumph, 2LP (Fourth Dimension Records) Recorded in 2007
- 2009 Soundcheck, LP ()
- 2011 , LP ()
- 2012 Serpent, CD ()
- 2014 , MC (Ruton Music)
- 2014 , LP ()
Soundtrack albums[]
- 2013 , MC (Ruton Music)
- 2013 Six Day Run, LP ()
- 2014 , CD/LP, ()
EPs - 7"[]
- 1991 DNA, 7" (Seventh Seal)
- 1992 Point, 7" (Bad Vugum)
- 1993 Silver, 7" (Bad Vugum)
- 1993 Crawatt, 7" (VHF Records)
- 1995 , 7" (Fourth Dimension Records)
- 1996 , split w. Psychoplasma, 7" (Metamorphos)
- 1998 , split w. DisCo., 7" (Zerga)
- 2002 , split with Acid Mothers Temple, 7" (Verdura)
- 2003 , 7" (Fonal Records)
- 2006 Earthworm, CDEP ()
- 2006 Void Star, 7" (DotDotDot)
- 2007 Vaahto, 7" (Trensmat Records)
- 2009 , 7" (Sub Pop)
- 2011 , 7" (Svart Records)
- 2012 , 7" () (Cover versions of two songs by Jesters of Destiny)
- 2013 , as "Falcon (ex-Circle)", 7" ()
- 2014 , 7" ()
- 2017 , 7" ()
Compilation appearances[]
- 1995 Yllättäviä kohtaamisia / Surprising Encounters, LP/CD, (Bad Vugum) (Features the Circle tracks Öja and Surrounding)
- 1998 MetaZoon, CD, (Metamorphos) (Features the Circle tracks Friitalan Nahka and a cover version of King Crimson's song The Talking Drum)
- 2000 Tuonen Tytär - A Tribute To Finnish Progressive, CD, Mellow Records (Features a cover version of Haikara's song Kun Menet Tarpeeksi Kauas Tulevaisuuteen, Huomaat Olevasi Menneisyydessä)
- 2002 Klangbad First Steps, CD, (Klangbad) (Features the Circle tracks Scotch and Northern Sky)
- 2003 Painted Black, CD, (tUMULt) (Features a cover version of The Rolling Stones' song Paint It Black)
- 2006 , CD, (Barge Recordings) (Features the Circle track No Battle, No Fire)
- 2006 SuperSonic 06, CD, (Capsule) (Features the Circle track Nöyrä Ninja)
- 2008 Like Black Holes In The Sky: A Tribute to Syd Barrett, CD, (Dwell Records) (Features a cover version of Syd Barrett's song Rats)
- 2009 Every Noise Has A Note, CD, (Trensmat Records) (Features the Circle track Vaahto)
References[]
- ^ "Band Biography at www.circlefinland.com". Archived from the original on 2009-01-29. Retrieved 2011-02-06.
- ^ The Allmusic blog
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Mccaighy, Kevin (13 May 2014). "The Strange World Of... Circle". The Quietus. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
- ^ Roadburn news page
- ^ Willschick, Aaron. "CIRCLE Release Entire New Album "Terminal" for Streaming". puregrainaudio.com. Retrieved 2017-08-02.
- ^ https://www.dominomusic.com/releases/richard-dawson/henki/cd
External links[]
- Finnish musical groups
- Musical groups from Pori
- Tumult Records artists