Beyond These Things

The Finnish psychedeliart band, Permanent Clear Light’s (PCL) new debut album, Beyond These Things (Havasupai Records, HVSP0001), varies from gently shimmering and summery, melodic psychedelic pop to powerful and aggressive, skyrocketing prog rock. Unlike most new psychedelic bands, PCL is not about going the retro way and, regardless of “this year’s craze”, the band is determined in its search for “the lost chord”, looking forward rather than back. Permanent Clear Light’s recording debut was on Fruits de Mer Records (UK) in 2010, and the band has since received extremely favourable reviews in the music press as well as lots of airplay around the world. For example, Classic Rock magazine (December 2012, UK) named PCL “Finland’s top psychedelic band” and noted that the single, Higher Than the Sun, “is destined to become a collectors’ classic”. Record Collector magazine (UK) reviewed the single in its November 2012 issue and said: “Two coloured vinyls, 3D cover and glasses….Ain’t the music trippy enough?” Steve Kilbey (leader of the legendary Australian psychedelic band, The Church) commented: “I love Permanent Clear Light. Finnish psychedelia is king!” on PCL’s Facebook page in February 2013. PCL also had a full page feature in the March 2013 issue of Guitar Player magazine (USA). PCL is a new (formed in 2009) band but its members have long backgrounds in the Finnish rock, pop, folk rock, jazz, experimental, avant-garde and psychedelic scenes. The band members are Markku Helin (guitars, E-Bow+, Theremin, oscillators, bass, effects, legal advice), Arto Kakko (percussion, vocals, electric violin, bass, Mellotron, slide guitar, cornet, sundry implements) and Matti Laitinen (lead vocals, guitar, synths, physical training). The members of PCL play a great variety of instruments, which adds a lot of extra texture to the compositions which, at times, border on fusion jazz rock. But, despite the musical variety displayed on Beyond These Things, psychedelia is the order of the day with Permanent Clear Light! For further information, please contact: Permanent Clear Light: markkuhelinx@gmail.com Havasupai Records: matti.laitinen56@gmail.com