London Plane shine through the dark with sophomore album ‘Bright Black’
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- July 7, 2022
London Plane is a six-piece juggernaut, made up of principal songwriter David Mosey (guitar and vocals), Jessica Cole (vocals), Bryan Garbe (drums), Grant Parker (bass), Julian Tulip (synths) and Kristofer Widholm (guitar). Their roots trace back to 2014 backstage at a tribute show to the recently deceased Lou Reed, when Psychedelic Furs’ Joe McGinty introduced David to Jessica, who were both performing.
Their new collection of tracks is electrifying, possessed, pulsing and relentless. Its content was greatly informed by several internal tragedies faced by band members during its production, including the deaths of family members, coupled with the tumultuous political situation that saw the ascension of villains. Where the vocals let in some hope, the bass snarls like something Lemmy would be proud of, the drums rumble and hiss, and the serrated guitar preens as cold as a weapon of mass destruction.
Rejecting a culture of me-first indulgence, ‘Bright Black’ is as hook-filled avant-rock study in context and contradictions – snarling while disco, ruminative while dancey, cerebral while demented, fogs of sweetness becoming venom, melancholy becoming hope, with bass-bruising grooves over lush textures. Recalling the threat of imminent cultural, sociopolitical and ecological devastation, these songs are intentional, forceful and direct, crafted as London Plane confronts the ascension of villains (you know who) and the fading of heroes (i.e. Bowie, Ennio Morricone, Stephen Hawking, Ruth Bader Ginsburg).
Following the success of their 2018 debut album ‘New York Howl’, London Plane methodically worked on new material in late 2019-early 2020. The identity and frame of the songs formed during short, intense sessions of listening to their ideological and sonic forebears, such as Kate Bush, Iggy, Bauhaus and Stravinsky. Capturing the spirit the moment it showed up, these songs are wilful, barbed, sardonic and hopeful, at once nodding to the spaghetti western and British post-punk goth anthems.
London Plane recently released the singles ‘Bright Black’ and ‘Come Out of the Dark’, a glimpse of brightness amidst the invasion of darkness after having earlier released ‘Francesco (Italiano)’, the original ‘Francesco’ single and ‘Watch That Madman Go’, a highly relevant rebuke of propaganda and the grand tradition of political dictatorship.
The ‘Bright Black’ album was released on June 17, available everywhere digitally, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp.
CREDITS
Produced by McKenzie Stubbert and David Mosey
Recorded at House Under Magic Studio, Brooklyn
Engineered by Danny Taylor at House Under Magic Studio, Brooklyn
Mixed by Mckenzie Stubbert
All lyrics by David Mosey
Music By David Mosey, Kristofer Widholm, Grant Parker, Bryan Garbe
Record cover art by Yoshi Sodeoka
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