By: Sean R. Grogan



Welsh indie-pop quintet, People in Planes, invade the U.S. with As Far As The Eye Can See . . ., a modern mix of rock and soulful melody. People in Planes have landed onto the music scene with powerful lyrics, like those found on "For Miles Around (Scratch To Void)" and guitar riffs reminiscent of Radiohead mixed with modern synthesizers and sampling. An eclectic blend of old and new, each track is different from the last, yet they are all tied together with the emotionally charged vocals of Gareth Jones. Produced by Sam Williams of Supergrass, As Far As The Eye Can See . . . is sure to win People In Planes fans worldwide. They spent the latter part of 2005 touring with The Bravery, building momentum to ensure a clear launch onto the American music charts. The opening track, "Barracuda," bears the teeth and the fearsome bite of its namesake with four minutes of bluesy vocals and fiery guitars and starts the album's journey on a high note.

Other tracks, such as "Black Widow" and "Narcoleptic" show PIP denying easy classification. "Black Widow" begins with a metal riff akin to System of a Down before abruptly switching to a Sublime reggae sound that alternates with a biting Brit-rock flare. The final track, "Narcoleptic," features a pop bass line and lilting vocals that display an emotional depth not heard since the days of the Pixies. With such an red-hot sound, it's no wonder that Joaquin Phoenix requested to direct the band's first video for their lush single, "If You Talk Too Much (My Head Will Explode)." People in Planes may be hard to nail down to any one genre, but once you listen to them you'll see why they’re going places.