TELESCOPE

This is a live recording from the Finnish band CIRCLE recorded in Germany in 2003. It's a double album with over 2 hours of music on it. It's cool that Dave Schmidt from SULA BASANNA guests on bass on the final 33 plus minute track.

"Matka" is laid back with what sounds like keys, synths and other strange sounds. A catchy beat arrives 2 1/2 minutes in. Vocals join in after 4 1/2 minutes and they will come and go. This is great. Guitar to the fore after 20 minutes. It starts to wind down before 27 minutes. "Metsan Henget / Tavaton" opens with percussion and we can hear people talking in the audience which is very annoying. Shut up already ! Keys before a minute and guitar a minute later as it picks up. A calm just before 10 minutes as reserved vocal expressions come in then keys and drums as it builds around 14 minutes. "Huurre" builds slowly as we get this repetitive rhythm. It settles back 4 1/2 minutes in with vocals. It's picking up around 8 minutes and the vocals become more prominant. An instrumental section follows until around 14 minutes when the vocals return to the end.

Disc two begins with "Ajannopeus" which builds with guitar and a beat standing out.Vocals after 9 minutes and keyboards are prominant around 11 minutes. "Teraskylpy" has this repetitive groove of drums and guitar as the vocals join in. The vocals eventually turn aggressive. It settles down after 10 minutes to the end. "Kaarre" is my favourite. It's laid back and dreamy with vocals, keys and more. The vocals stop then it picks up after 5 minutes. The vocals are back but not for long. It settles with vocals around 9 minutes as this song continues on it's long journey.

If I could make a single disc out of this it would easily be four stars but I guess I say that a lot with double albums. Still worth checking out because this is a good one.