Circle

This is the first album from Finnish experimenters Circle to see proper release in North America (their previous, Pori, is soon to be reissued on Knitting Factory imprint Feldspar), and it's sure to gain them some attention in the experimental post-rock underground from fans of Tortoise, Don Caballero and the Dinner Is Ruined. Generally more aggressive than some of their sleepier drone rock peers, Circle will find a noisy guitar riff and then sit on it for six or seven minutes, meditating on its inherent possibilities. These riffs often seem familiar, like providing instrumental remixes on Sabbath one minute and Krautrockers Can the next, but Circle manages to pull it off in ways that remain fresh and interesting.