I've heard Raunio. And Sunrise I have Sunrise and Katapult (a new one on No Quarter). All of the above are great. I really like that latest a great deal.
― Nate Carson, Tuesday, 27 November 2007 11:08 (sixteen years ago) link
I saw them last night and they slayed pretty hard. They have a mid-set interlude where they do Greco-Roman wrestling on the floor
― DJ Mencap, Tuesday, 27 November 2007 11:34 (sixteen years ago) link
I really like Circle feat. Verde. A lot mellower than their usual output. Slightly more akin to Chick Corea's 'Return to Forever' or even some of Vladislav Delay's output.
― Ulysses, Tuesday, 27 November 2007 14:39 (sixteen years ago) link
Any recommendations for other material along the lines of Prospekt and Sunrise? With Mika wailing in full effect, ideally. Check out the live album Raunio. Heavy wailing vocals. Includes a really great version of the first song on Prospekt, "Dedofiktion." The atmosphere is really heavy throughout. There are opera vocal breaks throughout the set, between the rockers. It was the first Circle album I heard, I need to listen to it again.
― Trip Maker, Tuesday, 27 November 2007 15:12 (sixteen years ago) link
I don't suppose anyone's managed to see the Saturnus Reality documentary that is mentioned on the Circle website?
It supposedly premiered at the recent Avanto festival in Helsinki and sounds very interesting...
Saturnus Reality (2007) is the Finnegan’s Wake of Finnish rock documentaries, and a fabulous cul-de-sac in a stream of consciousness. The film’s subject is Circle, the prolific Finnish experimentalists hailing from Pori, but it is a self-ironic vicious circle of a film that focuses on the curious world of the band and its musicians, shot on a home video camera. Jussi Lehtisalo, Mika Rättö, Janne Westerlund, Tomi Leppänen and Tuomas Laurila appear in the film as if they were acting out themselves.
The film is nominally centred on the recording sessions of Miljard, one of the latest albums by this extremely productive band, whose output includes 28 albums in 16 years. Starting out as a traditional rock documentary, the film soon runs loose on various sidetracks: to the depths of a forest, onto a frozen lake, into the darkness of night. The band’s primeval music becomes the soundtrack for magic rites performed in nature. The musicians meet the mysterious Oracle of the Reed Sea, a strange meteorite has landed in a snowy landscape, and so forth. What matters in Circle’s fantastic world is totality of vision, while details are treated somewhat generously. The new genre the band has coined, NWOFHM (The New Wave of Finnish Heavy Metal), may just as well mean fragile atonal piano improvisation or catatonic one-note walls of sound. Inspired by the ritualistic films of Stan Brakhage and Kenneth Anger, the film moves to the beat of double and triple exposures, the atmosphere balancing in the timeless opening between childish horseplay and reckless pathos. Enthusiastic live commentary can be heard beside the camera by the director/cinematographer, Pori’s multi-talented craftsman of the psychedelic, Esko Lönnberg. His earlier works include the splendid concert film with Doktor Kettu (also from Pori), shot through a distorting lens.
- Mika Taanila
Saturnus Reality (Finland, 2007, 60 min, Finnish dialogue, English subtitles) World premiere at Avanto Festival, Helsinki
― krakow, Wednesday, 5 December 2007 22:47 (sixteen years ago) link
I just received Alotus today, following a successful eBay purchase last week, and it's another winner on first listen. Nice and repetitive, no outright craziness, more in a relatively subdued rocking vein, with some really nice grooves and bass playing going on in particular.
My belief in the cult of Circle is strengthened yet more.
― krakow, Saturday, 8 December 2007 22:52 (sixteen years ago) link
Wow. I just discovered this band over the weekend. I picked up Katapult and the "Vaahto" 7" and I'm really happy I have this thread to dig through to find out where to go next. As corny as it may sound, this is one of those thrilling new discoveries that reminds me why I love music so goddamn much.
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Monday, 4 February 2008 13:48 (sixteen years ago) link
I just won a copy of "Pori" (the Feldspar version) on ye olde eBay - new Circle excitement!
― krakow, Sunday, 2 November 2008 23:02 (fifteen years ago) link
On the actual new release front there's a new full length CD album on Ektro called Hollywood (extended Earthworm EP style action) and a 2LP vinyl only live album on Fourth Dimension called Triumph (ala Arkades).
NWOFHM continues!
― krakow, Sunday, 2 November 2008 23:07 (fifteen years ago) link
ahhh yeah, i was hoping for some more duff stuff. i hope ektro re-re-releases the fucknig jesters of destiny cd, it's pretty great.
― ROBIN TROUSERS (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Monday, 3 November 2008 01:59 (fifteen years ago) link
fucknig. well.
There's plenty of Duff stuff on the new one, well worth it for Earthworm fans.
Just got word last night from Fourth Dimension that the Triumph vinyl should hopefully be out next week after long delays.
― krakow, Monday, 3 November 2008 08:19 (fifteen years ago) link
"hollywood" has already appeared on slsk. it's pretty good, maybe less thoroughly "metal" than the ep (if you leave off the two tracks from the ep, which they should've done) but still a good time.
― ROBIN TROUSERS (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Monday, 3 November 2008 10:50 (fifteen years ago) link
camera obscuraU2magenta skycoderadioheadthe LKorange juice
― Kevin Keller, Monday, 3 November 2008 16:24 (fifteen years ago) link
camera obscuraU2
magenta skycode
― Kevin Keller, Monday, 3 November 2008 22:17 (fifteen years ago) link
whut
― ROBIN TROUSERS (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Tuesday, 4 November 2008 02:38 (fifteen years ago) link
the kellerbot is malfunctioning
― jabba hands, Tuesday, 4 November 2008 02:48 (fifteen years ago) link
wasn't this a "circle the finnish band" thread? obviously the only correct choice was magenta skycode.
― Kevin Keller, Tuesday, 4 November 2008 05:17 (fifteen years ago) link
oh how droll
― ROBIN TROUSERS (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Tuesday, 4 November 2008 08:41 (fifteen years ago) link
Nice.
― krakow, Tuesday, 4 November 2008 09:47 (fifteen years ago) link
"Pori" is soooooo good. This is another one to truly rekindle my love. "Hollywood" is good, but it's not got me excited on the few listens since it turned up. "Pori" however is effing wonderful right from the first spin - track 2 is an utter belter. I'm half-way through and am setting up the album repeat button right now.
― krakow, Saturday, 8 November 2008 10:46 (fifteen years ago) link
'hollywood' is growing on me. it's hair metal noir at times
― kamerad, Sunday, 28 December 2008 22:08 (fifteen years ago) link
is that out? has it made it to the US yet? i can't find a fawning aquarius records review on their site...
― what we do is secrete (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Monday, 29 December 2008 02:47 (fifteen years ago) link
i got it as a gift, not sure how it was acquired. website claims '09 u.s. availability
http://www.circlefinland.com/index.php?discography=hollywood
if you liked the "earthworm" e.p., you might want this one too. the title is fitting. it's straight up cock rock at times, at others all southwest, a la steve von till solo
― kamerad, Monday, 29 December 2008 02:59 (fifteen years ago) link
You can still get it from Ektro directly it seems. When it first came out in October-ish they claimed it would have a limited pre-order period before the full release, but it still appears to be listed there: http://ektrorecords.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=928
― krakow, Monday, 29 December 2008 07:55 (fifteen years ago) link
each listen is better. "connection" could be a judas priest song. "hard to realize" sounds like a latter-day ween spaghetti western epic, complete with gene ween vocal inflections. these guys (if not ween) might be the most versatile band right now. "mercy and tuesday" and "mad man" develop into serious hypnojams
― kamerad, Friday, 2 January 2009 17:58 (fifteen years ago) link
[/snigger]
― hologram of balls (gnarly sceptre), Friday, 2 January 2009 18:03 (fifteen years ago) link
it'll get there; they'll love the shit out of this one. between 'hollywood' and the new animal collective i already have two '09 favorites, and it's just jan. 2, signs that this might the year i won't be able to keep up anymore
― kamerad, Friday, 2 January 2009 18:07 (fifteen years ago) link
Circle news:
New 2LP live record Triumph finally out now on Fourth Dimension.
Also, Doktor Kettu CD album on Ektro (droney Circle/Jussi side-project).
I also hear that the 'Saturnus Reality' Circle documentary film will be released on DVD in March-ish on No Quarter!
Fun times!
― krakow, Tuesday, 27 January 2009 12:18 (fifteen years ago) link
Finally got my latest package from Aquarius with Arkades, Forest, and Panic. Looking forward to digging in over the course of the day. Anyone know of other stores to order from? I've just about burned through all the albums Aquarius has available right now.
― display names have been changed to protect the innocent (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 10 April 2009 12:40 (fifteen years ago) link
eMusic has some of their stuff too if you don't mind getting by on digital downloads
― kamerad, Friday, 10 April 2009 12:44 (fifteen years ago) link
yeah, aquarius is probably the best u.s. distro for circle stuff, seeing as how they love everything they've ever done, etc.
anyone seen the new dvd?
― original bgm, Friday, 10 April 2009 13:36 (fifteen years ago) link
ektro recordss is run by circle's jussi lehtisalo. packages arrive pretty quickly and he promptly responds to any questions regarding orders.
― drone/a/sore, Saturday, 11 April 2009 00:15 (fifteen years ago) link
Seconding the service from Ektro. Top notch.
― krakow, Saturday, 11 April 2009 22:08 (fifteen years ago) link
News:
CIRCLE - Taantumus CD (Ektro-054) *** RE-ISSUE COMING SOON ON EKTRO ***=============================================================Ektro Records is proud announce that a re-release of Circle's difficult to find album Taantumus will be available in a couple of weeks. The re-issue comes with updated album artwork and Veitsi, a previously unreleased nine-minute bonus track.Taantumus tracklist and samples at Circle's website:http://www.circlefinland.com/index.php?discography=taantumusTaantumus was originally released by Bad Vugum in 2001.
Hurrah! I've still not seen the DVD, but will order it from Ektro when Taantumus is available.Also picked up the couple of t-shirts they had recently. Good times.
― krakow, Friday, 29 May 2009 21:52 (fourteen years ago) link
Hah, I just said to you today that the old stuff was bound to get reissued sooner or later
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Friday, 29 May 2009 22:00 (fourteen years ago) link
Excellent news!
― the sideburns are album-specific (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 29 May 2009 22:01 (fourteen years ago) link
They reissued the first album Meronia nearly 2 years ago and said at the time that it was the beginning of gradually reissuing all the older out of print stuff. Got this email through at the weekend from Ektro.
― krakow, Friday, 29 May 2009 22:06 (fourteen years ago) link
been listening to tower a bunch lately. this one doesn't seem too popular but I think I love it. the ramshackle percussion + droney, modulating fender rhodes sound just really works for me.
― original bgm, Tuesday, 2 June 2009 14:01 (fourteen years ago) link
The Taantumus reissue arrived this morning - one listen at work and it sounded top notch, so exciting to get an album from a band I love so much that I've never heard before and because of their odd nature have no clue beforehand what it might be like... and then to find that it totally rocks! Glorious times.
I also got a copy of Zopalki (on Bad Vugum from 1996) for relatively cheap off eBay recently. I prefer the true hypno-kraut-groove stuff, but it's got some solid moments after a couple of listens. I never really dug Meronia, so guessed that this would be a slight progression on but along the same lines.
Also scored a couple of the early-ish 7''s (the one on VHF, "Crawatt", and "Ghatarian" on 4th Dimension) for sensible prices, so I'm getting pretty deep. If anyone has any Circle-related goodies that they decide to part with then I'm your man... $$$'s ready and waiting!
Anyone else got the Circle fever atm?
Oh yeah, I missed the DVD from Ektro, so still haven't got hold of that, not that I ever really watch DVDs anyway, but you know...
― krakow, Saturday, 20 June 2009 21:40 (fourteen years ago) link
too expensive to buy em all
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Saturday, 20 June 2009 21:42 (fourteen years ago) link
Gotta catch them all. NWOFHM >>>> money
― krakow, Saturday, 20 June 2009 21:49 (fourteen years ago) link
i don't think i could really get circle fever. i mean, i like them, but very few of their albums excite me that much. prospekt, forest and earthworm are pretty great though.
― liege & leafblower (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Sunday, 21 June 2009 08:17 (fourteen years ago) link
Finally picked up Hollywood while shopping in Ann Arbor yesterday, though we got back home so late last night that I didn't have a chance to rip it to my iPod - so it'll have to wait until tonight for a spin. Also ordered the Taantumus reish from Aquarius, so um, yeah, my Circle love is in full force still.
― 3 mods 1 banhammer (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Monday, 10 August 2009 13:19 (fourteen years ago) link
Anyone looking for Circle cd's would be well-served to check out the Omega webstore. They have a half-dozen or so Ektro cd's and shipping is free. I just got "Meronia" there a few weeks ago, which is growing on me. Hopefully they'll get "Taantumus" in before too long.
― Robert Necrofrost, Monday, 10 August 2009 19:03 (fourteen years ago) link
One thing that makes coming back to work after a shot vacation better? Seeing a package from Aquarius sitting on your desk that contains Taantumus, Telescope, and La Dusseldorf's Viva. Cannot wait to dig into the Circle tonight! Did krakow ever get around to running another Circle poll?
― 3 mods 1 banhammer (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Tuesday, 18 August 2009 15:32 (fourteen years ago) link
That should be "short" vacation, although I would already like to shot another vacation.
― 3 mods 1 banhammer (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Tuesday, 18 August 2009 15:33 (fourteen years ago) link
The one band that Circle remind me of every now and again is Loop. Both perfect names for what these two bands do too.
― Peinlich Manoeuvre (NickB), Tuesday, 18 August 2009 15:35 (fourteen years ago) link
Also Oneida - the O.
― Peinlich Manoeuvre (NickB), Tuesday, 18 August 2009 15:36 (fourteen years ago) link
Funnily enough, those are the exact three bands I've listened to the most this year!
― 3 mods 1 banhammer (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Tuesday, 18 August 2009 15:37 (fourteen years ago) link