Blue Aeroplanes Altitude CD - Import

In conjunction with the re-release of the Blue Aeroplanes' landmark 1990 offering Swagger in January of 2006, frontman Gerard Langley elected to reunite for Altitude. While the resulting studio disc doesn't soar to any new heights for the band, it feels refreshing and alive just the same. Langley's acerbic, poetic rants are front and center and don't break from tradition as evidenced by "Bright Star Catalogue" and "Hexanal," where the Aeroplanes fly free of turbulence courtesy of spirited indie rock guitars. It's little surprise that Langley's pipes are better served in this environment, as he loses much of his magic in the confines of the sweetly toned, fiddle-laced "Tree Full of Starlings." Just the same, it's an anomaly overridden by the likes of the muscular "Raise the Roof High," which fulfills the promise of its title with ease. ~ John D. Luerssen

The Blue Aeroplanes' mighty brand new album Altitude is the group's first full-length studio opus since 1995's Rough Music, and their first major label release since 1991's Beat Songs. Led by a 'poet', Gerard Langley, the Aeroplanes lit up the early 90's with their album Swagger. Their shows were a riot. A band as individual and anarchic as the Aeroplanes were unlikely to survive the pile-em-high mentality of Britpop. After the Rough Music album of 1995, Langley headed underground, putting out occasional, low volume items on his own terms. Following the recent decision to re-release Swagger in January 2006, Langley decided it was time for a serious re-group. Pulling together and enhancing recordings he has made with various accomplices over the last 5 years, he has assembled this new Blue Aeroplanes album, Altitude. EMI.