Circle

This Finnish ensemble have been freaking out since 1991, creating intense drones, ambience, funereal melodies and uber-religious primal-sounding music. Recorded live, Raunio is, at times, much like the dark side of composer Jocelyn Pook, who in particular did some of the music for Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut (see: sex ritual scene). Instead, this psychedelic and slightly prog-esque group take one on a twilight hour voyage through the fjords of Scandinavia on an intense amount of hard psychedelic drugs accompanied by the devil, or some seer who is ready to purge all your demons; your choice. There are a variety of "stages" to the music, from beginning to peak while having a super-ethnic dinner, complete with background muzak, to creeping crescendos, à la early Pink Floyd, to full on doom and chaos. It's been said before but certainly can be applied here: this is a trip you'll never forget.