Circle (the Finnish band): S/D

i heard Jussi made an album with the people from Mamiffer -- has anyone heard it?

Tangentially Circle related (Jussi and Tomi are members), but absolutely highest recommendation for the two Mahti albums out this year, Musikki 1 and Musikki 2. Not always a fan of letting the band speak for themselves, but this description is pretty accurate:

Mahti are a Finnish four-piece group presenting a unique mixture of ambient-rock, electronic music and traditional Finnish-Karelian music.

Lengthy semi-improvisational pieces are built on top of complex, hypnotic grooves which are layered with opaque guitars and strangely soothing noise elements. In the heart of it all there's kantele, an ancient Finnish string instrument played by Hannu Saha, who has studied Finnish folk music in theory and practice for nearly five decades.

Some of the most wonderful cover art as well:

https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a0538001792_10.jpg

https://mahtifinland.bandcamp.com/album/musiikki-1

https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a0241654974_10.jpg

https://mahtifinland.bandcamp.com/album/musiikki-2

Ugh, I am in love with those covers.

I'll probably bump the Richard Dawson thread with this news, but just got an email from Riot Season that a third Mahti album is on the way, but this time the lineup has expanded to include Richard Dawson on guitar and vocals, as well as Sally Pilkington on keys and vocals.