Thought this was worth a mention....

So, apparently Biffy Clyro are fans of People in Planes, further confirming my suspicion that they belong to the BC/TCTC/Size/Amp/Vex camp of turn-of-the-century not-quite-prog camp that I love so. It's always nice when you find out that somebody pretty rockin' likes a band that you do too. 

Anyway, basically Simon Neil was asked to name his top five songs right now, and he came out with: 

1. People in Planes - Pretty Buildings

2. My Morning Jacket - Highly Suspicious

3. Frightened Rabbit - Set You Free

4. Oceansize - Music for a Nurse

5. Biffy Clyro - That Golden Rule

List (and reasoning) is here: http://web.orange.co.uk/p/web_musicstore/playlist_biffy_clyro

Personally, I would have gone with MMJ's cover of 'Rocket Man' and probably 'Token Trapped Woman' off the first PiP album, ...As Far As The Eye Can See, but that's just me.

People in Planes

Beyond the Horizon

Wind-Up Records

Rating: 4.5/5

Rightio, so as promised I'm going to write a few lines about PiP's follow-up to the capriciously brilliant ...As Far As The Eye Can See, a record that I fortuitously picked out of a bargain bin at Amoeba Records in SF, and that, to my knowledge, has still not been released in the UK. 

Listening to this, I can't help but ask where the fuck this band's legions of fans are, for largely eschewed is the idiosyncratic, pseudo-prog of their debut; instead, what's on offer here is left-of-centre prog informed alt-rock. The songs are shorter, the arrangements snappier, the vocal hooks more capable of passing the grey whistle test. In other words, it's shockingly accessible where perhaps AFATECS was not. Raine Maida of Our Lady Peace oversaw the early stages of this album, and it shows to an extent- while PiP have more kick than OLP, some airwaves-stealing moments have been included where they would not have made it onto AFATECS, notably 'Know By Now'. 

The best tracks obviously are the ones which showcase PiP's post-Ok Computer Radiohead musings combined with high register vocals and harmonies as well as Pete's guitar histrionics. In this category falls opener 'Last Man Standing', 'Get On The Flaw', expansive title-track 'Beyond the Horizon', Nu-Clear Sounds Ash-esque 'Tonight the Sun Will Rise' and 'Vampire'. The two singles, 'Pretty Buildings' and 'M'aidez' are your more run-of-the-mill pop rock, only distinguished really by the quality of singing and occasional outbursts of extended guitar technique. That said, I challenge any man to not get 'M'aidez' stuck in their head. It's fucking infectious. 

Apart from the afore-mentioned 'Tonight the Sun Will Rise', the highlight is undoubtedly heavy rocker 'Better Than Life', which closes on riffage so colossal that Wolfmother probably get a collective shiver down their spines every time PiP play it. Basically, it's a great album; not as randomly inspired as their first, perhaps, but it shows a band dealing with the need to expand their fanbase without shitting all over their roots (cough, Muse, cough), something that you can't condemn. 

Mayday [M'aidez] by acelynham

If you want to read my review of their first record, ...As Far As The Eye Can See, check it out here: http://whatismusicuk.blogspot.com/2010/01/people-in-planes-as-far-as-eye-can-see.html

People in Planes

As Far as the Eye Can See

Wind-Up Records

Rating: 4/5

To begin writing about this record it seems important to point out something I say a lot: there is basically nothing truly original to be done in music these days. To steal from the script of Primer, it's now a case of "taking from your surroundings, and making of them more". At this, People in Planes are an exceptional case. Track for track, this album is of a startlingly high quality, and there is not one weak song on it. Critics of the band will point to their obvious influences, but this belies the fact that it's a great album anyway, and that the list of influences is just diverse enough to make a really great rock record.

So what does it sound like? The opener, 'Barracuda' is very QOTSA, or perhaps first-album Wolfmother; listen and decide for yourself. Track two sounds a lot like Effloresce-era Oceansize. Track three sounds like My Iron Lung EP-era Radiohead, but with a large pinch of some other that is entirely PiP's own. 'Moth' is more of their own style, with a small amount of '2+2=5' in the mix. 'Rush' with Damon Albarn singing could be a track from the tail end of the first Gorillaz album. 'My Black Widow' is almost like something off of A Crow Left of the Murder by Incubus; 'Leech', or any of the moments of heavy riffing that they do post-Morning View. In 'Token Trapped Woman', the album's best track PiP have no obvious comparison, as with 'Falling by the Wayside', 'Fire' and the wicked closer, 'Narcoleptic'. 'Light for the Deadvine' and 'Penny' both remind me of something that I can't place, so maybe it's more of a vibe than an actual direct comparison in my mind; they are great songs anyway.

At this point, I should mention that I once caught this band supporting The Crimea at the Camden Barfly. Opening with a shambolic 'Vader's March' the band played a chaotic set that whilst in terms of stage presence was, well, intimidating in its violence and energy, was musically unimpressive. As a result, I was surprised that when I picked up this album in the reduced section of Amoeba records SF I thought it was awesome. Also, their lead guitarist is really fucking talented, and I always have to give kudos for any guitar player that does something I can't instantly pin down. On this record are some neat sounds and effect tricks that I still haven't worked out how to do myself, and geeky as it is that really impresses me.

In short, like solid alternative rock? Look no further. Like early Oceansize borderline prog/alt rock? Look no further. Impressed by solid songwriting? Look no further. Prefer strong melodies and a more 'pop' sensibility? There's something for you here too. In short, it's a Smorgasbord. If you like any kind of alternative rock, I defy you, having set your prejudices about 'originality' aside, to dislike this record. It fucking rocks.