Pekka Laine & The Enchanted return in Astral Mood - Third album of cinematic spheres and mind-expanding boogie out in November

When the critically acclaimed album The Enchanted Guitar of Pekka Laine was released in 2021, its creator had no idea he was embarking on a musical journey that would evolve into a trilogy. “The first solo album was a spontaneous experiment by curious sound alchemists under the encouraging eye of maestro Esa Pulliainen. We didn't think about the consequences,” sums up Pekka Laine, who has been active as an instrumental music advocate since the 1990s.

The most important consequence of that opening move was the birth of The Enchanted, a band that developed into a respected live outfit. This "enchanted" ensemble gave the richer, grander Pekka Laine & The Enchanted in Slumberland album its vibrant identity in 2024. Now, the band's telepathically soaring interplay forms the foundation for the final chapter of this three-part trip.

Reaching from cinematic spheres to mind-expanding boogie grooving like a buzzing lava stream, the music sounds more muscular and daring than ever. Pekka Laine’s compositions bend in many directions and unexpected postures in the hands of the six-piece mini-orchestra. The Enchanted collective also co-wrote three of the album’s tracks. “We picked a direction and just let go, without clear structures or instructions. We found the right mood and took a freefall. Afterwards, we realized we had some killer new tracks! Without our shared journey and letting off steam, this wouldn't have been possible,” Laine explains, describing the chemistry of a band that has unlocked new dimensions within itself.

The goal of the new Enchanted album is clear: to whisk the listener away to somewhere far, far off. Close your eyes, and you'll find yourself on an astral trip amidst dreamscapes and strange visions. A dangerously beautiful melody conjuring Cold War atmospheres leads onto the path of an atomic-powered space horse galloping in true krautrock fashion. A nocturnal ballad, handed directions by Frank Sinatra’s ghost, intertwines with high-octane hippie-era guitar shredding. An Appalachian riff sounding like an ancient incantation blends with Scandinavian psychedelic groove, bending into a hazy ritual jam channeling vintage horror.

“Even though these tracks carry an escapist and perhaps even romantic vibe, they are still deeply personal creations. Music diving into a psychedelic landscape or the mist of a lost world represents what I believe in, what I feel is my ultimate calling,” Laine says, capturing the essence of The Enchanted sound, before adding: “There's enough run-of-the-mill stuff being made already. We're more than happy to handle the Neverland department.” One of the key tracks on the new album, Willow Tree, showcases the band’s search for a magical sound at its finest. Nightbird, one of the most stunning voices in the Finnish new-folk scene, delivers the perfect finishing touch with her vocals and hypnotic guitar work. Exuding the mystical spirit of psych-folk, the song is a timeless gem that, for some reason, the classics of the genre never got around to making back in the day.

To Pekka Laine, the album format remains the ultimate way to experience music. At its best, a long-player creates an entire parallel reality where you can get lost and where everything ties together. Pauliina Mäkelä’s enchanting cover art and the visual design created by trusted graphic artist Jussi Karjalainen tell the very same story as Väinö Karjalainen’s mix and production, which overflows with intriguing details. When all energies push in the same direction, things start happening—and that is ultimately what Pekka Laine & The Enchanted in Astral Mood is all about.

“You have to reach for the stars and the moon. You have to aim for the same mind-blowing thrill as the coolest psych-pop classics, soundtrack oddities, and the trippiest 1960s and '70s dance records. This is our sincere, full-tilt version of that same magic.”