Soundcheck, by Circle

Soundcheck

by Circle

supported by

William Denton When I write this, only one other person has bought the album. Inexplicable! This has more classic Circle, with monster riffing and trance-inducing grooves overlaid with occasional screaming vocals. It's the kind of album you want to blast over and over even though---perhaps because---it will drive your neighbours crazy. Favorite track: Nopeuskuningas.

	/

Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Purchasable with gift card

$7 USD or more
Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
Custom high quality, sturdy tip-on mini-LP gatefold packaging.

Includes unlimited streaming of Soundcheck via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

ships out within 3 days

edition of 800

Purchasable with gift card

$10 USD or more

	1.	Kukkakaalia Kapteenit! 03:40
	2.	Tuhatsata 20:39
	3.	Virsi 09:25
	4.	Nopeuskuningas 14:00

about

Recorded in Finland in October 2009, the band describes Soundcheck as “the most contemporary document possible of a Circle soundcheck/concert experience. For this concert Circle was reinforced by the guitars of J. & P. Jaaskelainen, who may be familiar to some from the ranks of Circle’s brother-in-arms Pharaoh Overlord. On the album, this expanded line-up explores the experimental possibilities of concert staples “Virsi” and “Nopeuskuningas” further than possibly ever before.”

“The first part offers two new tracks, beginning with the brief “Kukkakaalia Kapteenit!”, a wispy swirl of shimmery synths, laid back tribal drumming and some dramatic, emotional crooning, very cinematic sounding, almost like it could be some lost 4AD single, dreamy and ethereal, giving way to the way more rocking and intense “Tuhatsata”, which takes up most of the side, a slow burning, blackened bit of Finnish krautrock, super epic, with dueling vocals, crooning versus grunted and growled, fusiony keys, still more tribal drumming, spidery guitars, the track pulsing and pounding, building to multiple crescendos, frenzied freakouts that always lip right back into more looped mesmer.

The album progresses with two instantly recognizable live set staples, first up, “Virsi”, dramatically progtastic, with that super soaring epic intro, all dynamic shifts and huge bursts of instrumental crunch, with vocals howling and wailing almost operatically, before lurching into some rad atonal krauty, fusiony, jazzy, hypno groove skitter. The second track, another Circle classic, and live staple, “Nopeuskuningas”, explodes right out of the gate, with its chugging almost surfy, ZZ Top-ish boogie riff, locked in groove, the whole thing stretched out over the remainder of the side, the band solid, and hypnotic, and intense, and rocking and tight as fuck. Their showstopper for sure, and it clearly did the job at this show as well.

In so much as between albums, Circle, like Grateful Dead, crank out killer live record after killer liver record, often with some of the same songs, always including a few live staples, familiar enough to hit the spot, but different enough that a Circle fan could be forgiven for needing them ALL!” (Aquarius Records)

A stunning and truly unique live album approach by the Finnish masters of hypnorock and unusual sounds.

Originally released as a very limited vinyl edition via J. Lehtisalo’s own imprint Full Contact Records and instantly sold out, Soundcheck is back to life housed in our luxurious, heavy tip-on mini-LP gatefold packaging featuring fantastic expanded photography and artwork by Jussi S. Karjalainen.

──

CD | 800 copies

––> More infos and presentations: www.essence-music.com

credits

released November 1, 2011

Multitrack recording by Max Laine.
Live sound engineering by Tuomas Laurila.
Editing, mixing and mastering by Jussi Lehtisalo.
Cover art and skull photos by Jussi S. Karjalainen.

ESS018

license

about

Essence Music Brazil

Strange toned sonorities & finely crafted editions.

essence-music.com

contact / help

Contact Essence Music

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Soundcheck, you may also like:

Irish-American Prayer
by Thurston Moore / John Moloney - Caught on Tape

supported by 4 fans who also own “Soundcheck”

Just a glorious noise recording augmented by some very interesting prose. An essential purchase I thought as a massive Sonic Youth fan. Gavin Hellyer
go to album
Spraycan In Space
by Sunburned Hand of the Man

supported by 4 fans who also own “Soundcheck”
go to album
An Ant's Death
by Sunburned Hand of the Man

supported by 4 fans who also own “Soundcheck”

The main event is a real journey. Starts as a rock session but degenerates into the babble of desert ghosts. Which is totally cool by me. Only after having this for seven years did I notice this is a live recording which makes me wish I could see the audience's faces. Was Ist Das?
go to album
You Are The Sky
by WEEED

Proggy, epic stoner metal with more than a touch of the fantastical in its winding melodies. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 15, 2019
go to album
"brisalho"
by NALESCA MANTEGA

Nalesca Mantega channel nature sounds into warm, experimental ambient with a dubby undercurrent. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 29, 2020
go to album
Dronolith
by Blackwolfgoat

featured on Bandcamp Radio Nov 12, 2013
go to album
The Spacial Crime Symbol
by Sunburned Hand of the Man

supported by 4 fans who also own “Soundcheck”

a gloriously mental collection that is all over the place, just as it should be. cory rayborn
go to album