As Far As The Eye Can See… - People In Planes
Though I’d never be presumptuous enough to suggest that groups with guitars are on their way out, I would say it’s very possible that keyboard players may find themselves in for a substantial raise. After so many years of being maligned to the sidelines and handed the lead guitarist’s leftovers (in all manners of speaking), it’s about time that keyboard players worldwide receive their just due and assert themselves as the KEY to a band’s success. People In Planes certainly capitalize on the extra texture provided by their keyboardist Ian Russell who chimes in throughout this Cardiff, Wales quintet’s debut album with the atmospherics that take these moody-but-catchy pop songs and turn them into ambient puzzles rich in sonic buzz (“Falling By The Wayside,†“Pennyâ€). Producer Sam Williams (Supergrass) adds his own Fender Rhodes tinkling to “Rush†for an extra-funky ’70s porno film groove. And who will resist “If You Talk Too Much (My Head Will Explode),†other than someone for whom the truth hurts? –Rob O’Connor
