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 Progressive rock (shortened as prog rock or simply prog; sometimes conflated with art rock) is a broad genre of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom and United States through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early 1970s. Init ...

, and ambient. On some albums they have defined themselves as New Wave of Finnish Heavy Metal (NWOFHM).

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'' (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 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 Stoner rock, also known as stoner metal or stoner doom, is a rock music fusion genre that combines elements of doom metal with psychedelic rock and acid rock. The genre emerged during the early 1990s and was pioneered foremost by Kyuss and Sleep ...

spin-off

Pharaoh Overlord Pharaoh Overlord is an experimental rock music band, initially featuring three members of the Finnish group Circle, Jussi Lehtisalo, Janne Westerlund and Tomi Leppänen. Originally begun as a vehicle to indulge their love of stoner rock, Pharaoh ...

. 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 Jussi Lehtisalo (born 1972) is a Finnish bassist. In 1991, he founded Circle, a prolific band drawing influences from heavy metal and krautrock to develop a style of repetitive experimental rock. He also runs a record label, Ektro Records, releas ...

, Janne Westerlund's Plain Ride,

Lusiferiinin Armosta Jussi Lehtisalo (born 1972) is a Finnish bassist. In 1991, he founded Circle, a prolific band drawing influences from heavy metal and krautrock to develop a style of repetitive experimental rock. He also runs a record label, Ektro Records, releas ...

, 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 (2007). 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 (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, ''Suur-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 (an imprint of Domino Recording Company).

Discography

Albums

* 1994 '' Meronia'', CD/2LP ( Bad Vugum), 2007 CD re-issue (Ektro Records) * 1996 '' Zopalki'', CD/2LP ( Bad Vugum), 2012 CD re-issue (Ektro Records) * 1996 '' Hissi'', CD (Metamorphos / Captain Trip Records (Japan)) * 1997 ''

Fraten ''Fraten'' is the fourth album by the Finnish experimental rock band Circle. It was released in 1997 by Metamorphos. Track listing Personnel *T. Elo *T. Harrivaara * J. Lehtisalo *T. Niemelä *J. Peltomäki *V. Raitio References {{Authori ...

'', CD (Metamorphos) * 1998 '' Pori'', CD (Metamorphos), 2000 CD (Feldspar (USA)) * 1998 ''

Kollekt ''Kollekt'' is the sixth album by the Finnish experimental rock band Circle, led by bass guitarist Jussi Lehtisalo. It was released in 1998 by Bad Vugum. It collects the band's early singles, and previously unreleased songs from sessions for th ...

'', compilation CD ( Bad Vugum) * 1999 ''

Andexelt ''Andexelt'' is the eighth album by the Finnish experimental rock band Circle. It was released in 1999 by Metamorphos, and re-issued the following year by tUMULt with an extra track. Critical reception Allmusic's Brian Way called ''Andexelt'' "the ...

'', CD (Metamorphos), 2000 CD (tUMULt) * 2000 '' Prospekt'' CD (Ektro Records), 2002 2LP (Static Resonance) * 2001 '' Taantumus'', CD ( Bad Vugum) * 2002 ''Sunrise'', CD (Ektro Records), 2006 2LP (Headspin) * 2002 ''

Alotus ''Alotus'' is the thirteenth album by the Finnish experimental rock band Circle. The album cemented Circle's relationship with Hans Joachim Irmler, a founder member of the krautrock band Faust. The CD was released on Irmler's label Klangbad, and I ...

'', CD (

Klangbad Faust (English: "fist") are a German rock band from Hamburg. Formed in 1971 by producer and former music journalist Uwe Nettelbeck, the group was originally composed of Werner "Zappi" Diermaier (b.1949), Hans Joachim Irmler (b.1950), Arnulf M ...

) * 2003 ''

Guillotine A guillotine is an apparatus designed for efficiently carrying out executions by beheading. The device consists of a tall, upright frame with a weighted and angled blade suspended at the top. The condemned person is secured with stocks at t ...

'', CD (Ektro Records), 2005 CD (Scratch) * 2004 ''Forest'', CD (Ektro Records), 2005 CD (No Quarter) * 2005 '' Tulikoira'', CD (Ektro Records), 2007 2LP + 7" (Headspin) * 2006 '' Miljard'', 2CD (Ektro Records) * 2006 ''Tyrant'', CD (

Latitudes In geography, latitude is a coordinate that specifies the north– south position of a point on the surface of the Earth or another celestial body. Latitude is given as an angle that ranges from –90° at the south pole to 90° at the north pol ...

) * 2007 '' Tower'' feat. Verde, CD (Last Visible Dog) * 2007 ''

Panic Panic is a sudden sensation of fear, which is so strong as to dominate or prevent reason and logical thinking, replacing it with overwhelming feelings of anxiety and frantic agitation consistent with an animalistic fight-or-flight reac ...

'', CD (Ektro Records) * 2007 '' Katapult'', CD/LP (No Quarter) * 2008 '' Hollywood'', CD/2LP (Ektro Records) * 2010 ''

Rautatie ''Rautatie'' ( Finnish for " railroad") is the first novel by the Finnish writer Juhani Aho, published in 1884. Its style has been called national miniature realism. The novel is about the quiet life of a couple living in the middle of the woods ...

'', CD (Ektro Records) * 2011 ''

Infektio ''Infektio'' is the thirty-fifth album by Finnish experimental rock band Circle. It was released in April 2011 on CD and limited vinyl. Track listing *A1 Salvos (15:10) *A2 Maatunut (6:20) *B1 Peruuttamaton (7:57) *B2 Pisara (5:38) *B3 Saarnaaja ...

'', CD/LP (Conspiracy Records) * 2011 ''Noiduttu'', MC (Ruton Music) * 2011 ''

Rakkaus tulessa ''Rakkaus tulessa'' is the thirty-eighth album by Finnish experimental rock band Circle, a collaboration with Finnish electronic music pioneer Erkki Kurenniemi. The album was released in July 2011 to coincide with Kurenniemi's seventieth birth ...

'' feat. Erkki Kurenniemi, LP (Full Contact) * 2011 ''Giardino'' feat. Verde, MC (Ruton Music) * 2012 ''Manner'', LP (Hydra Head Records) * 2013 ''Enharmonic Intervals (For Paschen Organ)'', with Mamiffer, CD/LP (Ektro Records) * 2013 ''Incarnation'', CD/LP (Ektro Records) * 2013 ''Frontier'', as "Falcon (ex-Circle)", CD/LP (Ektro Records) * 2014 ''Leviatan'', as "Circle (ex-Falcon)", CD/LP (Ektro Records) * 2015 ''Pharaoh Overlord'', CD/LP (Ektro Records) /span> * 2017 ''Terminal'', CD/LP ( Southern Lord Records)

Live albums

* 1998 '' Surface'', split w. Marble Sheep, CD (Metamorphos / Captain Trip Records (Japan)) * 2001 '' Raunio'', CD (Ektro Records), 2002 CD (Squealer Music) * 2004 '' Golem / Vesiliirto'', 2LP (Kevyt Nostalgia / Super Metsä) * 2004 ''Empire'', LP (Riot Season) * 2004 ''

Mountain A mountain is an elevated portion of the Earth's crust, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock. Although definitions vary, a mountain may differ from a plateau in having a limited summit area, and is usually higher t ...

'', LP (Kevyt Nostalgia / Super Metsä) * 2005 ''

General A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". O ...

'', LP (Kevyt Nostalgia / Super Metsä) * 2006 ''Arkades'', LP (

Fourth Dimension Records Fourth Dimension Records is a British record label, specialising in international underground music. It was founded by Gary Levermore as an offshoot of his Third Mind label before being taken over by Richard Johnson (aka Richo) in 1984. The l ...

), 2007 2CD (

) * 2007 '' The Blaze Game'', as "Sunburned Circle" with Sunburned Hand of the Man, CD/LP (Conspiracy) * 2007 ''

Telescope A telescope is a device used to observe distant objects by their emission, absorption, or reflection of electromagnetic radiation. Originally meaning only an optical instrument using lenses, curved mirrors, or a combination of both to obse ...

'', 2CD (Sunhair) Recorded in 2003 * 2007 ''

Rakennus ''Rakennus'' is the thirtieth album by Finnish experimental rock band Circle. It was issued as a CD by Ektro Records in 2007. It is a recording of a concert from 19 September 2007 at Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar, Charlottesville, Virginia. The penu ...

'', CD (Ektro Records) * 2008 '' Triumph'', 2LP (

) Recorded in 2007 * 2009 '' Soundcheck'', LP (Full Contact) * 2011 ''Maxim (Circle album), Maxim'', LP (Full Contact) * 2012 '' Serpent'', CD (Ektro Records) * 2014 ''Hukkaamiskielto'', MC (Ruton Music) * 2014 ''6000 km/h'', LP (Full Contact)

Collaborations

* 2021 '' Henki'' with Richard Dawson, CD/2LP, ( Weird World/Domino)

Soundtrack albums

* 2013 ''Suur-Pori'', MC (Ruton Music) * 2013 ''Six Day Run'', LP (Ektro Records) * 2014 ''SSEENNSSEESS'', CD/LP, (Ektro Records)

EPs - 7"

* 1991 '' DNA'', 7" (Seventh Seal) * 1992 '' Point'', 7" ( Bad Vugum) * 1993 ''

Silver Silver is a chemical element with the Symbol (chemistry), symbol Ag (from the Latin ', derived from the Proto-Indo-European wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/h₂erǵ-, ''h₂erǵ'': "shiny" or "white") and atomic number 47. A soft, whi ...

'', 7" ( Bad Vugum) * 1993 '' Crawatt'', 7" (

VHF Records VHF Records is an American record label, known for their extensive work with several major experimental artists. The label is based in the Washington, DC suburb of Fairfax, Va., and it initially focused on indie and experimental bands from that reg ...

) * 1995 ''Ghatarian'', 7" (

) * 1996 ''Kitin'', split w. Psychoplasma, 7" (Metamorphos) * 1998 ''Valas'', split w. DisCo., 7" (Zerga) * 2002 ''Tour'', split with Acid Mothers Temple, 7" (Verdura) * 2003 ''Elcric'', 7" ( Fonal Records) * 2006 ''

Earthworm An earthworm is a terrestrial invertebrate that belongs to the phylum Annelida. They exhibit a tube-within-a-tube body plan; they are externally segmented with corresponding internal segmentation; and they usually have setae on all segments. ...

'', CDEP (No Quarter) * 2006 ''

Void Star Void Star is a 2017 near-future science fiction novel by American writer Zachary Mason. It is his second novel, published after '' The Lost Books of the Odyssey''. Set in a near-future San Francisco, the book explores themes of artificial intell ...

'', 7" (DotDotDot) * 2007 ''Vaahto'', 7" ( Trensmat Records) * 2009 ''Odottamaton'', 7" ( Sub Pop) * 2011 ''Mylläri'', 7" (

Svart Records Svart Records is a Finnish independent record company focused on heavy metal music, especially doom metal. It concentrates mostly on releasing LP reissues of albums previously unavailable on vinyl. Discography * Callisto, ''Providence 2LP'' (S ...

) * 2012 ''End of Time/God Told Me To'', 7" (Ektro Records) (Cover versions of two songs by

Jesters of Destiny Jesters of Destiny is a heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California, which was formed in 1984 by Bruce Duff (bass/vocals, who had been booted from 45 Grave earlier in the year) and guitarist Ray Violet. Evolving from a recording project spearh ...

) * 2013 ''Beer and Ribs'', as "Falcon (ex-Circle)", 7" (Full Contact) * 2014 ''Kumiluoti'', 7" (Full Contact) * 2017 ''Kummitus'', 7" (Full Contact)

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 ''Larks' Tongues in Aspic'' is the fifth studio album by the English progressive rock group King Crimson, released on 23 March 1973 through Island Records in the UK and Atlantic Records in the United States and Canada. This album is the debu ...

") * 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 Faust (English: "fist") are a German rock band from Hamburg. Formed in 1971 by producer and former music journalist Uwe Nettelbeck, the group was originally composed of Werner "Zappi" Diermaier (b.1949), Hans Joachim Irmler (b.1950), Arnulf Me ...

'', CD, (

) (Features the Circle tracks "Scotch" and " Northern Sky") * 2003 ''Painted Black'', CD, (

tUMULt Tumult may refer to: * Violent and noisy commotion or disturbance of a crowd * A general outbreak or disorder, riot Other uses *Tumult Records Tumult Records (stylized tUMULt) is an independent record label in San Francisco run by Andee Connors ...

) (Features a cover version of

The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the gritty, rhythmically d ...

' song " Paint It Black") * 2006 ''Innature'', 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 Roger Keith "Syd" Barrett (6 January 1946 – 7 July 2006) was an English singer, songwriter, and musician who co-founded the rock band Pink Floyd in 1965. Barrett was their original frontman and primary songwriter, becoming known for his ...

'', CD, (Dwell Records) (Features a cover version of Syd Barrett's song "

Rats Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents. Species of rats are found throughout the order Rodentia, but stereotypical rats are found in the genus ''Rattus''. Other rat genera include '' Neotoma'' ( pack rats), '' Bandicota'' (bandico ...

") * 2009 ''Every Noise Has a Note'', CD, ( Trensmat Records) (Features the Circle track "Vaahto")

References

External links

Circle homepage
{{DEFAULTSORT:Circle Finnish musical groups Musical groups from Pori Tumult Records artists Finnish experimental rock groups