Ahead of the release of the band's new album, 6, Pharaoh Overlord's Jussi Lehtisalo puts together a British music themed playlist, and comments on each of the songs included.
1. Richard Dawson: Civil Servant
Currently Richard Dawson is both my favourite artist and my superhero. Richard's latest effort is an album I'd love to have made myself, assuming I had enough talent.
2. Wytch Hazel: Dark Ages
Song writing here is in a league of its own in the heavy metal scene. Ingenious twin guitar work packed with infernally gorgeous groove.
3. Loop: Arc-Lite (Sonar)
One of the most crucial role models for my own musical career. Loop's pulse sounds like my heartbeat and their arrangements fall into place like Tetris blocks.
4. Steven Wilson: Stoneage Dinosaur
I have been a Cardiacs fan ever since I got hold of their live video All That Glitters Is A Maresnest on VHS 30 years ago. I went to see them in London's Astoria a few times, travelling from Pori, Finland. I have kept a close eye on Steven's solo career for the last ten years and seen him play several times in Finland. His albums have the same unique musical ambition as the classic albums of the best bands of the 70s'. Steven's brilliant version pays homage to the Cardiacs' masterpiece.
5. Pentangle: Light Flight
I love this song's groove and vocal melody. It always gets me in a good mood and allows me to feel the fleeting touch of happiness.
6. Roy Harper: The Same Old Rock
I used to compete in 25 metre rapid fire pistol shooting, and the competitions usually consisted of two rounds. During the breaks between the rounds I almost invariably concentrated on listening to Roy Harper's Stormcock from the car's cassette player. He's one of the artists I flew to see at the 100 Club in London a couple of times with my wife. I've listened to the same record nonstop for the last two weeks from the car stereo, and it still is one of the most important albums of my life.
7. Spacemen 3: Revolution
Soundtrack of my youth in the 90s. It's still relevant music after all these years. Every time I hear the song I remember the guitar necks from the ingenious music video where the hands move in unison across the fretboard. There's something unique and fundamental going on.
8. This Heat: Horizontal Hold
What I hear in This Heat is exceptionally advanced rock music. I'm particularly fond of Charles Hayward's drumming and I admire his fantastic vocals on Camberwell Now. I have had two opportunities to play with him in Pakasteet and Pharaoh Overlord, and I will always treasure those moments.
9. The Invisible Band!: Underworld
In the late 80s I came across a super speedy one-man band in the crowded Camden Town and ended up buying two C-cassettes from an opened guitar case. The band was The Invisible Band! I have been dragging this memory with me for over 30 years now, and for some reason, at regular intervals, I return to these cassettes with the same enthusiasm.
10. Dando Shaft: Coming Home To Me
Dando Shaft were a strong influence on my favourite Finnish band, Mummi Kutoo. This is the only reason I listened to Dando Shaft, Lindisfarne and Amazing Blondel a lot.
11. Iron Maiden: Sun and Steel
This is one of the all-time biggest bands of my youth. I saw them for the first time at Helsinki Ice Hall in 1984 and ever since I have tried to see them every time they come to Finland. An exceptionally great band! For some reason I have always loved the B-side of the Piece of Mind album.
12. Fleetwood Mac: Sands of Time
I started listening to Fleetwood Mac when I was a young boy. I loved, among others, Oh Well (Parts 1 & 2), Green Manalishi and Albatross. I would not have guessed then that one day Future Games would be my favourite album. I pick it up from the shelf every other year and it never ceases to amaze me. Hypnotic and brilliant production which for some reason reminds me of Amon Duul 2's mid-70s albums. A masterpiece!
13. The Who: Amazing Journey
The Who's performances have had a strong impact on me. The things I have borrowed to my own stage antics include smashing instruments -- to a limited extent -- and Townshend's windmill. The Who are like four superheroes playing rock and roll. And I have seen Quadrophenia at least ten times.
14. Spinal Tap: Stonehenge
I have seen this film maybe 20 times over the years. I've tried my best to carry on their legacy and I have been surprisingly good at that. A huge ideological and also musical influence.
15. Miranda Sex Garden: Sunshine
I saw this music video on MTV's 120 Minutes programme in the early 90s and loved the juxtaposition of clear vocal harmonies and raging music. My boys' choir background shadows my music career so that I have always admired clear and determined singing, as for example in Stereolab.
16. Jethro Tull: Reasons for Waiting
I had to choose between this and Wishbone Ash's The King Will Come. Since I have listened to Jethro Tull's Stand Up maybe 50 times in the past month, I had to choose this musical beauty in the playlist. I'm always moved by the string/flute arrangements near the end.
17. Soft Machine: The Soft Weed Factory
I like all eras of Soft Machine. My favourites have always been the long hypnotic pieces from sixth and seventh albums. Airy and tangible jazz hypnosis where arpeggios expand the passing time.
18. Matching Mole: O'Caroline
Robert Wyatt's Rock Bottom is on my list of all-time favourites, but so is this. Every time I hear O'Caroline I get tears in my eyes.
19. Fairport Convention: Tam Lin
This is one of the best British folk songs ever. I got to know Sandy Denny's voice through Led Zeppelin's Battle of Evermore.
20. Led Zeppelin: No Quarter
The one and only.
Band photo supplied by Rocket Recordings
6, the new album by Pharaoh Overlord releases on November 27th through Rocket Recordings.
JUSSI LEHTISALO