Jussi Lehtisalo
Encyclopedia
Jussi Lehtisalo
Jussi Lehtisalo (born 1973 is a Finnish bassist
. In 1991 he founded Circle
, a prolific band drawing influences from heavy metal
and krautrock
to develop a style of repetitive experimental rock
. He also runs a record label, Ektro Records
, releasing his own music alongside left field rock and metal releases by artists such as Faust
and Acid Mothers Temple
.
have released 35 albums since 1994. All focus on repetition as a key ingredient, and yet the variation from album to album is often startling. Throughout the band's ever-shifting line-up, Lehtisalo has been the only constant presence, and de facto leader. The current core line-up of the band - Mika Rättö, Janne Westerlund, Tomi Leppänen and Lehtisalo - is the longest consistent incarnation of the group, and although their output has slowed down since the mid-00s (the band released 7 albums in 2007 alone!) Lehtisalo has shown no sign that he plans to wind the band up.
, originally the trio of Leppänen, Westerlund and Lehtisalo indulging in a passion for stoner rock
. He and Rättö have also released several albums as a duo (Rättö ja Lehtisalo
) and one as a trio with Kauko Röyhkä
. Other groups include the improvisation-based Ektroverde, Doktor Kettu, Steel Mammoth and, intriguingly, Lehtisalofamily, which consists of Lehtisalo accompanied by his parents. Grumbling Fur, meanwhile, is a collaboration with Daniel O'Sullivan
of Guapo
and Alexander Tucker
, amongst others.
Jussi Lehtisalo (born 1973 is a Finnish bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
. In 1991 he founded Circle
Circle (band)
Circle is an experimental rock band, founded in Pori, Finland in 1991. Their eclectic style is "ever changing, ever Circular", classified into genres such as progressive, Krautrock, ambient, heavy metal, speed-kraut, and avant-rock, among others...
, a prolific band drawing influences from heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
and krautrock
Krautrock
Krautrock is a generic name for the experimental music scenes that appeared in Germany in the late 1960s and gained popularity throughout the 1970s, especially in Britain. The term is a result of the English-speaking world's reception of the music at the time and not a reference to any one...
to develop a style of repetitive experimental rock
Experimental rock
Experimental rock or avant-garde rock is a type of music based on rock which experiments with the basic elements of the genre, or which pushes the boundaries of common composition and performance technique....
. He also runs a record label, Ektro Records
Ektro Records
Ektro Records is an independent label based in Pori, Finland. It is operated by Jussi Lehtisalo who also plays on many of the label's releases. Ektro also operate three smaller imprints, Super Metsä and Full Contact and casette-only Ruton music.Releases:...
, releasing his own music alongside left field rock and metal releases by artists such as Faust
Faust (band)
Faust are a German krautrock band. Formed in 1971 in Wümme, the group was originally composed of Werner "Zappi" Diermaier, Hans Joachim Irmler, Arnulf Meifert, Jean-Hervé Péron, Rudolf Sosna and Gunther Wüsthoff, working with record producer Uwe Nettelbeck and engineer Kurt Graupner.-History:Faust...
and Acid Mothers Temple
Acid Mothers Temple
Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso U.F.O. is a Japanese psychedelic band, the core of which formed in 1995. The band is led by guitarist Kawabata Makoto and early in their career featured many musicians, but by 2004 the line-up had coalesced with only a few core members and frequent guest...
.
Circle
Still the main project for Lehtisalo's musical endeavours, CircleCircle (band)
Circle is an experimental rock band, founded in Pori, Finland in 1991. Their eclectic style is "ever changing, ever Circular", classified into genres such as progressive, Krautrock, ambient, heavy metal, speed-kraut, and avant-rock, among others...
have released 35 albums since 1994. All focus on repetition as a key ingredient, and yet the variation from album to album is often startling. Throughout the band's ever-shifting line-up, Lehtisalo has been the only constant presence, and de facto leader. The current core line-up of the band - Mika Rättö, Janne Westerlund, Tomi Leppänen and Lehtisalo - is the longest consistent incarnation of the group, and although their output has slowed down since the mid-00s (the band released 7 albums in 2007 alone!) Lehtisalo has shown no sign that he plans to wind the band up.
Other Projects
Lehtisalo is involved in a large number of projects outside of Circle, most notably Pharaoh OverlordPharaoh Overlord
Pharaoh Overlord is an experimental rock-music band, featuring three members of the Finnish group Circle, Jussi Lehtisalo, Janne Westerlund and Tomi Leppänen. Originally begun as a vehicle to indulge their love of stoner rock, Pharaoh Overlord's output has become more varied, mirroring the...
, originally the trio of Leppänen, Westerlund and Lehtisalo indulging in a passion for stoner rock
Stoner rock
Stoner rock or stoner metal is a subgenre of heavy metal, combining elements of psychedelic rock, blues rock, traditional heavy metal and doom metal. Stoner rock is typically slow-to-mid tempo and features a bass-heavy sound, melodic vocals, and 'retro' production...
. He and Rättö have also released several albums as a duo (Rättö ja Lehtisalo
Rättö ja Lehtisalo
Rättö ja Lehtisalo is an experimental rock-music band, featuring two members of the Finnish group Circle, Jussi Lehtisalo and Mika Rättö. Their output is clearly influenced by krautrock acts such as Cluster, Neu! and Harmonia...
) and one as a trio with Kauko Röyhkä
Kauko Röyhkä
Kauko Röyhkä, , is Finnish rock musician and author. Since early 1980s he has been one of the most foremost rock artists in Finland known especially as a strong lyricist....
. Other groups include the improvisation-based Ektroverde, Doktor Kettu, Steel Mammoth and, intriguingly, Lehtisalofamily, which consists of Lehtisalo accompanied by his parents. Grumbling Fur, meanwhile, is a collaboration with Daniel O'Sullivan
Daniel O'Sullivan
Daniel O'Sullivan is a multi-instrumentalist/composer from Manchester, England best known for playing in experimental art-rock bands Guapo, Miasma & the Carousel of Headless Horses, Ulver, Æthenor, Miracle and Mothlite....
of Guapo
Guapo (band)
Guapo is a British experimental rock/art rock band formed in the mid 1990s by drummer/percussionist Dave Smith and guitarist/vocalist Matt Thompson...
and Alexander Tucker
Alexander Tucker (musician)
Alexander Tucker is an English musician from Kent who writes, records and performs alone and in collaboration with a varied array of artists. One critic writes that "Tucker sounds like he’s following a tradition that has long been neglected, focusing not on ageless songs and ideas but on ageless...
, amongst others.
Albums
- Lehtisalofamily, Interplay (1997, Ektro RecordsEktro RecordsEktro Records is an independent label based in Pori, Finland. It is operated by Jussi Lehtisalo who also plays on many of the label's releases. Ektro also operate three smaller imprints, Super Metsä and Full Contact and casette-only Ruton music.Releases:...
CD) - Ektroverde, Pingvin (1998, Ektro RecordsEktro RecordsEktro Records is an independent label based in Pori, Finland. It is operated by Jussi Lehtisalo who also plays on many of the label's releases. Ektro also operate three smaller imprints, Super Metsä and Full Contact and casette-only Ruton music.Releases:...
CD) - Ektroverde, Futuro - A New Stance For Tomorrow (1998, Ektro RecordsEktro RecordsEktro Records is an independent label based in Pori, Finland. It is operated by Jussi Lehtisalo who also plays on many of the label's releases. Ektro also operate three smaller imprints, Super Metsä and Full Contact and casette-only Ruton music.Releases:...
CD) - Kirvasto, Täydellisiä Kysymyksiä, Täydellisiä Vastauksia (1998, Bad Vugum CD)
- Ektroverde, Arpeggio (1999, Bad Vugum CD)
- Ektroverde, Harakkakuisti (2000, Ektro RecordsEktro RecordsEktro Records is an independent label based in Pori, Finland. It is operated by Jussi Lehtisalo who also plays on many of the label's releases. Ektro also operate three smaller imprints, Super Metsä and Full Contact and casette-only Ruton music.Releases:...
CD) - Ektroverde, Integral (2000, Snowdonia/Mizmaze CD)
- Eturivi, Ylhäisten Kastien Kelvottomat Jälkeläiset (2002, Verdura CD)
- Ektroverde, Ukkossalama (2003, Ektro RecordsEktro RecordsEktro Records is an independent label based in Pori, Finland. It is operated by Jussi Lehtisalo who also plays on many of the label's releases. Ektro also operate three smaller imprints, Super Metsä and Full Contact and casette-only Ruton music.Releases:...
CD) - Rakhim, Rakhim (2006, Qbico LP)
- Steel Mammoth, Atomic Mountain (2007, Ektro RecordsEktro RecordsEktro Records is an independent label based in Pori, Finland. It is operated by Jussi Lehtisalo who also plays on many of the label's releases. Ektro also operate three smaller imprints, Super Metsä and Full Contact and casette-only Ruton music.Releases:...
CD) - Rakhim, Crimson Umbrella (2007, 20 Buck Spin CD)
- Steel Mammoth, The Kingdom of the Golden Hammer (2008, Super Metsä CD)
- Doktor Kettu, Soft Delirium (2009, Super Metsä CD)
- Lusiferiinin Armosta, Nuolee (2009, Ektro RecordsEktro RecordsEktro Records is an independent label based in Pori, Finland. It is operated by Jussi Lehtisalo who also plays on many of the label's releases. Ektro also operate three smaller imprints, Super Metsä and Full Contact and casette-only Ruton music.Releases:...
CD) - Steel Mammoth, Nuclear Ritual (2009, Musapojat CD)
- Susi-Unto, Puheluja pimeältä puolelta (2010, Full Contact LP)
- Jussi Lehtisalo, Rotta (2010, Full Contact LP)
- Steel Mammoth, Radiation Funeral (2011, Ektro RecordsEktro RecordsEktro Records is an independent label based in Pori, Finland. It is operated by Jussi Lehtisalo who also plays on many of the label's releases. Ektro also operate three smaller imprints, Super Metsä and Full Contact and casette-only Ruton music.Releases:...
LP) - Grumbling Fur, Furrier (2011, Aurora Borealis CD)
- Steel Mammoth, Nuclear Rebirth (2011, Full Contact Records LP)
Singles
- Ektroverde, Mortalaattori (1996, Ektro RecordsEktro RecordsEktro Records is an independent label based in Pori, Finland. It is operated by Jussi Lehtisalo who also plays on many of the label's releases. Ektro also operate three smaller imprints, Super Metsä and Full Contact and casette-only Ruton music.Releases:...
CDEP) - Ektroverde, Music For Supermarket EP (1998, Bad Vugum CDEP)
- Ektroverde, Svart/Orange (1999, Fonal RecordsFonal RecordsFonal Records is an independent record label from Finland. It was initially founded in the mid-1990s by Sami Sänpäkkilä to release his recordings under his recording name Es.Sänpäkkilä ran the label from his home in Ulvila...
7") - Ektroverde/Hinageshi Bondage, Varovaisesti Kotiin/Tänään Ruokalassa/Peltilehmä (1999, Verdura split 7")
- Eturivi, Lempilapset (1999, Verdura 7")
- Steel Mammoth, Nuclear Barbarians (2007, Ektro RecordsEktro RecordsEktro Records is an independent label based in Pori, Finland. It is operated by Jussi Lehtisalo who also plays on many of the label's releases. Ektro also operate three smaller imprints, Super Metsä and Full Contact and casette-only Ruton music.Releases:...
CDEP) - Motorspandex, Torment Star (2008, Full Contact 7")
- Arkhamin Kirjasto, Arkhamin Kirjasto (2010, Full Contact 7")