by Tina WhelskiPeople In Planes turned a fascination with flying into a new band name with their debut album, As Far As The Eye Can See (Windup Records).
The former Tetra Splendour members, Gareth Jones (vocals), Peter Roberts (guitar), Kris Blight (bass), John Maloney (drums), and Ian Russell (keyboard), decided “People In Planes” made a much better signature and mused about the imagery of people floating around in “tin cans,” not quite ever being where they came from, but never really where they were going. The alternative/progressive five-piece rock unit from Cardiff, Wales reigned in their musical aspirations to match the evolution and the transformation was complete.
“We had a previous incarnation of the band, so I think on this record we try to make a more concise collection of music,” says Gareth Jones. “We really try to get to the point and the bones of the songs, whereas before, we always had been guilty of meandering too much and not really getting to the heart of things. With this record we spent some time in pre-production with our producer, which we’d never really done before. We’d never really had someone come in and work with us through the structures of the songs. It was a totally new way of making music for us.”
And it wasn’t just any producer. It was Sam Williams, who produced I Should Coco for Supergrass, the band that inspired young Peter and Gareth at ages 13 and 14 respectively to form their own. Williams taught People In Planes how to avoid self-indulgence and look at things from a listener’s point of view. The resulting record offers several standout tracks, including “If You Talked Too Much (My Head Will Explode).”
“‘If You Talked Too Much (My Head Will Explode)’ was a take on failed relationships,” says Jones. “The record as a whole actually was an exploration of rejection. We were signed to a record label before with the old band. We got dropped and went through the mill with the music industry and felt so frustrated. I think the album was always going to be about that, how dreams get broken up and get dashed by people who don’t necessarily give a shit about you.”
Other catchy tracks include “For Miles Around,” about having the vision to see beyond where you are and Jones’ favorite, “Light For the Deadvine.”
“It’s the most emotional song,” says Jones. “It’s different listening on the record, but live it just blows my mind. The song really is about having your heart ripped out. It’s dramatic vocally.”
Songs like “Light For the Deadvine” stir Jones as a performer, but he finds collaborating with Roberts helps him work harder as a vocalist.
“My vocal range is a totally different voice than the way Pete sings,” says Jones. “When he’s writing stuff he writes in falsetto, sort of humming, mumbling and producing what it will take to make the thing work. When it translates to me, I really have to fricken stretch my voice. Whenever Pete writes it’s always way too high. It takes a lot of adapting, but I guess it’s great because it’s actually pushing me to levels that I could never reach before.”
Whether soaring vocally or passing through an atmosphere of sound, People In Planes take you for a journey.
People In Planes perform at Bowery Ballroom on May 11.
Originally published in The Aquarian Weekly (5/2/06).
The former Tetra Splendour members, Gareth Jones (vocals), Peter Roberts (guitar), Kris Blight (bass), John Maloney (drums), and Ian Russell (keyboard), decided “People In Planes” made a much better signature and mused about the imagery of people floating around in “tin cans,” not quite ever being where they came from, but never really where they were going. The alternative/progressive five-piece rock unit from Cardiff, Wales reigned in their musical aspirations to match the evolution and the transformation was complete.
“We had a previous incarnation of the band, so I think on this record we try to make a more concise collection of music,” says Gareth Jones. “We really try to get to the point and the bones of the songs, whereas before, we always had been guilty of meandering too much and not really getting to the heart of things. With this record we spent some time in pre-production with our producer, which we’d never really done before. We’d never really had someone come in and work with us through the structures of the songs. It was a totally new way of making music for us.”
And it wasn’t just any producer. It was Sam Williams, who produced I Should Coco for Supergrass, the band that inspired young Peter and Gareth at ages 13 and 14 respectively to form their own. Williams taught People In Planes how to avoid self-indulgence and look at things from a listener’s point of view. The resulting record offers several standout tracks, including “If You Talked Too Much (My Head Will Explode).”
“‘If You Talked Too Much (My Head Will Explode)’ was a take on failed relationships,” says Jones. “The record as a whole actually was an exploration of rejection. We were signed to a record label before with the old band. We got dropped and went through the mill with the music industry and felt so frustrated. I think the album was always going to be about that, how dreams get broken up and get dashed by people who don’t necessarily give a shit about you.”
Other catchy tracks include “For Miles Around,” about having the vision to see beyond where you are and Jones’ favorite, “Light For the Deadvine.”
“It’s the most emotional song,” says Jones. “It’s different listening on the record, but live it just blows my mind. The song really is about having your heart ripped out. It’s dramatic vocally.”
Songs like “Light For the Deadvine” stir Jones as a performer, but he finds collaborating with Roberts helps him work harder as a vocalist.
“My vocal range is a totally different voice than the way Pete sings,” says Jones. “When he’s writing stuff he writes in falsetto, sort of humming, mumbling and producing what it will take to make the thing work. When it translates to me, I really have to fricken stretch my voice. Whenever Pete writes it’s always way too high. It takes a lot of adapting, but I guess it’s great because it’s actually pushing me to levels that I could never reach before.”
Whether soaring vocally or passing through an atmosphere of sound, People In Planes take you for a journey.
People In Planes perform at Bowery Ballroom on May 11.
Originally published in The Aquarian Weekly (5/2/06).
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