Can you go back in time to fix things that lie firmly in the past? This is the question which compelled CP Fletcher from A Permanent Shadow to write the song “Number One Fan”, an ode to someone dear to his heart who has not always received the respect and attention she deserved. What better way to express remorse and regret than channeling Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi” whose chorus concludes that “you don’t know what you got till it’s gone”?

After “A Xmas Gift in May”, A Permanent Shadow presents a second standalone single which addresses matters of the heart, something quite unusual in the APS cannon. “I don’t tend to write lyrics about personal relationships”, affirms CP Fletcher. “I’m much more comfortable writing about tsunamis, self-help gurus, religion or the corporate world. But I’m happy how ´Number One Fan´ has turned out, and it can be seen as a heartfelt way of saying both ´Thank you´ and ´I’m Sorry´. I tried not to be too cheesy though.”

A Permanent Shadow are currently preparing the release of their third long play, “No Leaf Clover”. Neither “A Xmas Gift in May” nor “Number One Fan” will feature on the album as the record has a common thread which deals with dysfunctional relationships and challenging upbringings. The lyrical themes range from premature fame and its consequences to abuse of power and life in warzones. “As always with us, the outlook is rather bleak”, confirms Fletcher. The core team of Fletcher, Albert Català (keyboards, arrangements) and Valentí Nieto (guitar, bass, production) started working on the album in early 2022 at Barcelona’s Mini Blind Studios. The release will be preceded by a further couple of singles and is scheduled for autumn 2023.

“No Leaf Clover” is the first APS album not to contain any covers. The group released a covers EP titled “UnderCover” in late 2022 and is planning another EP release for 2024. “I love doing covers”, confirms CP Fletcher. “I already have compiled a list of tracks we’ll record for a second EP of other people’s songs, which I look very much forward to.”

Right now, however, it’s the turn of “Number One Fan”, a catchy yet melancholic ode to loyalty and unconditional support. The single comes with a performance video directed by Jorge Rodríguez.