Circle (Finnish band)


Circle is a Finnish experimental rock band formed in Pori in 1991. Their eclectic, ever-changing style has been associated with genres such as krautrock, heavy metal, progressive rock, and ambient. On some albums they have defined themselves as New Wave of Finnish Heavy Metal.
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Biography

Circle was formed in 1992 by bassist and singer Jussi Lehtisalo, 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, Prospekt, and Taantumus, 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 Tomi Leppänen, and guitarist Janne Westerlund, playing more heavy metal-oriented music though continuously influenced by krautrock band Faust. Since 2009, Julius Jääskeläinen and Pekka Jääskeläinen have appeared on all recordings by the band. Sound engineer and musician/composer Tuomas Laurila 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. 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 Plain Ride, 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 Esko Lönnberg, and the resulting movie, Saturnus Reality released as a DVD, by No Quarter Records. Lönnberg's attempt to make the film itself became the subject of another movie, The Man With The Video Camera, filmed by Petri Hagner, which has also been released as a DVD by Fonal Records. The band are also closely associated with the filmmaker Mika Taanila: in 2011, they provided a live soundtrack to his 1998 silent film Pori ; 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. The group made its 32nd full-length album, Terminal, available for streaming on SoundCloud shortly before its official release on Southern Lord Records on 23 June 2017.
In November 2021, Circle released Henki, a collaborative album made with English musician Richard Dawson, on Weird World.

Discography

Albums

  • 1994 Meronia, CD/2LP, 2007 CD re-issue
  • 1996 Zopalki, CD/2LP, 2012 CD re-issue
  • 1996 Hissi, CD
  • 1997 Fraten, CD
  • 1998 Pori, CD, 2000 CD
  • 1998 Kollekt, compilation CD
  • 1999 Andexelt, CD, 2000 CD
  • 2000 Prospekt CD, 2002 2LP
  • 2001 Taantumus, CD
  • 2002 Sunrise, CD, 2006 2LP
  • 2002 Alotus, CD
  • 2003 Guillotine, CD, 2005 CD
  • 2004 Forest, CD, 2005 CD
  • 2005 Tulikoira, CD, 2007 2LP + 7"
  • 2006 Miljard, 2CD
  • 2006 Tyrant, CD
  • 2007 Tower feat. Verde, CD
  • 2007 Panic, CD
  • 2007 Katapult, CD/LP
  • 2008 Hollywood, CD/2LP
  • 2010 Rautatie, CD
  • 2011 Infektio, CD/LP
  • 2011 Noiduttu, MC
  • 2011 Rakkaus tulessa feat. Erkki Kurenniemi, LP
  • 2011 Giardino feat. Verde, MC
  • 2012 Manner, LP
  • 2013 Enharmonic Intervals , with Mamiffer, CD/LP
  • 2013 Incarnation, CD/LP
  • 2013 Frontier, as "Falcon ", CD/LP
  • 2014 Leviatan, as "Circle ", CD/LP
  • 2015 Pharaoh Overlord, CD/LP
  • 2017 Terminal, CD/LP

Live albums

  • 1998 Surface, split w. Marble Sheep, CD
  • 2001 Raunio, CD, 2002 CD
  • 2004 Golem / Vesiliirto, 2LP
  • 2004 Empire, LP
  • 2004 Mountain, LP
  • 2005 General, LP
  • 2006 Arkades, LP, 2007 2CD
  • 2007 The Blaze Game, as "Sunburned Circle" with Sunburned Hand of the Man, CD/LP
  • 2007 Telescope, 2CD Recorded in 2003
  • 2007 Rakennus, CD
  • 2008 Triumph, 2LP Recorded in 2007
  • 2009 Soundcheck, LP
  • 2011 Maxim, LP
  • 2012 Serpent, CD
  • 2014 Hukkaamiskielto, MC
  • 2014 6000 km/h, LP

Collaborations

Soundtrack albums

  • 2013 Suur-Pori, MC
  • 2013 Six Day Run, LP
  • 2014 SSEENNSSEESS, CD/LP,

EPs - 7"

  • 1991 DNA, 7"
  • 1992 Point, 7"
  • 1993 Silver, 7"
  • 1993 Crawatt, 7"
  • 1995 Ghatarian, 7"
  • 1996 Kitin, split w. Psychoplasma, 7"
  • 1998 Valas, split w. DisCo., 7"
  • 2002 Tour, split with Acid Mothers Temple, 7"
  • 2003 Elcric, 7"
  • 2006 Earthworm, CDEP
  • 2006 Void Star, 7"
  • 2007 Vaahto, 7"
  • 2009 Odottamaton, 7"
  • 2011 Mylläri, 7"
  • 2012 End of Time/God Told Me To, 7"
  • 2013 Beer and Ribs, as "Falcon ", 7"
  • 2014 Kumiluoti, 7"
  • 2017 Kummitus, 7"

Compilation appearances

  • 1995 Yllättäviä kohtaamisia / Surprising Encounters, LP/CD,
  • 1998 MetaZoon, CD,
  • 2000 Tuonen Tytär - A Tribute to Finnish Progressive, CD, Mellow Records
  • 2002 Klangbad First Steps, CD,
  • 2003 Painted Black, CD,
  • 2006 Innature, CD,
  • 2006 SuperSonic 06, CD,
  • 2008 Like Black Holes in the Sky: A Tribute to Syd Barrett, CD,
  • 2009 Every Noise Has a Note, CD,