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Circle

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Circle is a Finnish experimental rock band from Pori, founded around 1991. The bassist and singer Jussi Lehtisalo is the only member who has been there all those years. Their style is eclectic and constantly changing, and is associated with krautrock, heavy metal, progressive rock and ambient. On some albums they call themselves the New Wave of Finnish Heavy Metal. Their debut album Meronia from 1994 sounded like krautrock and had lyrics in an invented language. Many albums followed in quick succession, including Hissi and Zopalki in 1996 and Fraten in 1997.

Music and breakthrough

International attention came with three albums: Andexelt in 1999, Prospekt in 2000 and Taantumus in 2001. From Sunrise in 2002 the core consists of Lehtisalo, keyboard player and singer Mika Rättö, drummer Tomi Leppänen and guitarist Janne Westerlund. Since then they have played heavier, metal-like music, which remains constantly influenced by the German krautrock band Faust. The members played in a great number of side projects, such as Pharaoh Overlord. In 2011 the group played the music live for the silent film Pori by Mika Taanila, which resulted in the album Suur-Pori. That same year they were artists in residence at the Dutch festival Roadburn. In 2017 their thirty-second album, Terminal, was released.

Influence

Circle shows that Finland has a rock scene of its own, with a mind of its own. The band plays repetitive, trance-like rhythms and heavy guitars, and blends genres without sticking to any rules.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to a track from Prospekt and notice the repetitive rhythms and the heavy, tight guitar. Try to hear how the piece builds slowly instead of having a clear chorus.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

See also

Categories: Artists