Circle

Circle are (or were) Finland's answer to Germany's krautrock era. Their repetitive guitar riffs and psychedelic electronics were a great ode to the music of the time. Aquarius Records were praising them like they were the be-all-end-all of modern rock music when they started getting exposure outside of their homeland, even Pitchfork really seemed to enjoy their modern take on motorik rock and indeed some of their releases were interesting, they even managed to hook up some collaborations with Japan's kings of heavy psych Acid Mothers Temple, but the quality of their output has been so uneven ever since that it's difficult to take them seriously.

One album might sound like some very experimental cosmische rock and the next could be a new album by Judas Priest complete with testicle-crushing falsetto. It could be interesting if there was some sort of element to bind them all, some common factor which confirmed where this band was headed for, but to this date, I haven't figured it out. There is not one single album which I really enjoy throughout, but there is always one or two songs which I find incredible and that is the only reason why I even buy their records (that and I am a big fan of some of their side projects like Doktor Kettu and Pharaoh Overlord). The whole underground finnish scene, including, among others, Avarus, Kemialliset Ystävät and Islaja soon overshadowed this first of the recent experimental rock groups to conquer outside of their homeland.

Zopalki Label: Bad Vugum Records Release: 1996 Format: CD Cat. no: BAD-57CD
Song list:
Brilliant Colours For Bright Ideas (4:45) Valerian (3:46) Warszawa (6:24) The Presence Of Epileptics (5:39) Argont (8:39) O Entru (2:58) Bonoroid (7:31) Sector (6:05) Re-Masturbated (7:48) Ompatitions (5:12) Ghatarian (5:39) Gregorinum Vaernd Valerii (7:40)

Andexelt Label: Metamorphos Release: 1999 Format: CD Cat. no: META-025CD
Song list:
Andexelt (6:31) Odultept (9:03) 20 Milate (8:57) Lisääpui (5:21) Humusaar (8:31) Paljasta (5:50) Vereftoi (7:36) Kidulgos (13:22)

Pori Label: Feldspar Records Release: 2001 Format: CD Cat. no: SPAR:3
Song list:
Perustamisasiakirja 8.3.1558 (3:40) Vesitorni/Kaupunginsairaala (8:08) Back To Pori (4:58) Suurpalo (2:08) Kartano (7:24) Promenaadikeskus (7:25) Kruunu Paaha Pori Kuningas (9:04) Seisomakatsomo (2:48) Karhun Kansaa 1 (5:50) Porin Jazzjuhlat -65 (13:49)

Raunio Label: Ektro Records Release: 2001 Format: CD Cat. no: EKTRO-016
Song list:
Raunio I (6:56) Alotus (7:58) Raunio II (2:46) Kultaa (5:18) Raunio III (1:08) Lokki (10:59) Dedofiktion (7:00) Potto (13:17) Raunio IV (3:24)

Forest Label: No Quarter Records Release: 2004 Format: CD Cat. no: NOQ010
Song list:
Havuporti (12:41) Luikertelevat (9:12) Ydinaukio (6:16) Jäljet (17:53)

Tulikoira Label: Ektro Records Release: 2005 Format: CD Cat. no: EKTRO-033
Song list:
Rautakäärme (7:05) Tulilintu (3:50) Berserk (8:04) Puutiikeri (24:14)

Earthworm Label: No Quarter Records Release: 2006 Format: CD Cat. no: NOQ012
Song list:
Earthworm (5:14) Connection (3:46) Taking It Back (5:40) Coda (5:39)

Arkades
Label: Fourth Dimension Records
Release: 2006
Format: 2CD
Cat. no: FD2CD71

Song list:

CD 1 (Rebel Platter):

The Greatest Kingdom (23:24)
The Ghost Of The Highway (21:28)

CD 2 (Bullet Platter):

Maltan Haukka (14:33)
Ibizan Rambo (10:33)
Puutiikeri (16:32)

Miljard
Label: Ektro Records
Release: 2006
Format: 2CD
Cat. no: EKTRO-040

Song list:

CD 1:

Parmalee (19:58)
B.F.F. (8:15)
Duunila (21:12)
Manni (8:46)
Salenius (5:02)

CD 2:

Sophie (13:09)
Mühle (4:49)
Cornelia (7:48)
Bakkis (3:37)
Viitane (22:35)

The Blaze Game Label: Conspiracy Records Release: 2007 Format: CD Cat. no: CORE054
Song list:
Majava (7:15) Heinävelho (9:12) Vuoren Valloitus (3:33) Variksenpelätin (7:49) Yksi Hirvi, Miljoona Metsästäjää (4:42) Lentävä Iinnoitus (2:57) Tappajahauki (4:26) Untitled (0:45)