Circle - "Maxim" (Full Contact Records KRYPT-012)
From Aural Innovations #43 (October 2011)
Circle has returned with their fourth or fifth release this year. This is an older recording from 2005 from Pori and is a very inspired two song concert where they performed with Trad, Gras och Stenar from Sweden. Side A is the 20 minute long Satatuhatta. I think this is a really cool piece and Mika is in top form and I love the delay on his voice sometimes. It even features some harmonica but one is not credited on the record? To me, this piece represents a psychedelic kraut rock opera for the space cadets. Amazing emotion in his singing as the piece slowly builds up over time and is very intense. There is even some spaced out guitar soloing which is pretty rare for Circle. Wow. Side B starts off with a very fast section that the band would use a few years later but this does not last long before they start to go into some repetitive and spaced out areas of the universe. They return to the fast section again at the end. This track is 19 1/2 minutes and has a similar effect but a bit of a darker feel to it. I was really impressed by this record. Damn cool stuff.
For more information you can visit the Circle web site at: http://www.circlefinland.com
Visit the Ektro Records web site at: http://www.ektrorecords.com
Reviewed by Scott Heller