gone beyond by PeRPLeXa

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PeRPLeXa soundtracks unseen realms. An intertwining of celebration and tragedy. A symphonic, tribal trance carved out with ethereal guitar, luminescent strings and epic, hypnotic grooves.

PeRPLeXa is an American psychedelic band rooted in Detroit’s space rock movement of the previous century. The outfit came together as an experimental basement collaboration in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1994. Band founder and percussionist Jonathan Wald, together with guitarist Robert Schurgin (W.I.G., West Indian Girl) and bassist Jenny Schmid, recorded and released the first self titled album in 1997 followed by the "This Glorious Forward" EP in 1998. Wald and Schurgin were then joined by cellist Phil Myers for the group’s third release, "The Sun and the Moon Getting It On”, released in 1999. The group enjoyed growing acclaim for its intense rhythms, dreamy moods, dark textures and indefinable "other."

After relocating to Los Angeles, Wald and Schurgin began to create their most expansive and ambitious recording yet, "Gone Beyond." Years in the making, this long anticipated new release again features cellist Phil Myers, as well as bassist Chris Camacho (Forest for the Trees), bassist William B. Carruthers (Spacemen 3, Spiritualized, Spectrum, Freelovebabies), vocalist Lucia Iman, violinist Alix Koromzay, pianist Gordon Bowen, vocalist Eliza Doria, and bassist Jenny Schmid.

This most recent incarnation sees PeRPLeXa evolved into a bizarre, atmospheric creature with cellos for talons and drums for a tongue. Jonathan Wald's oddly lyrical percussion style elevates this underground band's 4th album to a point of enchantment. This is the group's masterpiece. The music is beautiful, fascinating, bold and complex. PeRPLeXa bears its soul with an outside voice, presented as luscious sculptures of progressive, chamber psychedelia. The band considers itself an instrumental outfit, where even the vocals that do appear seem to hang in a wordless, exotic ambiance. "Gone Beyond" is a powerful musical exploration; a passionate creative expression born from the marriage of exhilarating joy and devastating depression, translated into something strange and wondrous and, quite literally, awesome. -Thomas Jones / Else Teicher / 2011

Gone, Gone, Gone beyond, gone utterly beyond.
Oh, what an Awakening.

Gone, Gone, Gone beyond, gone utterly beyond. Oh, what an Awakening.

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