The Planes were founded in 2009 in a dilapidated Brooklyn apartment by Massachusetts-born songwriter Stephen Otto Perry and a loose collection of friends. Soon after, a regular lineup was formed, and the band began playing local shows in venues that are now all banks, condos, or overpriced restaurants.
They released their first full-length album in 2011 and, since then, have chugged along with a rotating cast of characters, releasing five more albums, four EPs, and a handful of singles. Through sporadic gigging, half-hearted DIY promotion, and the kind words of a few bloggers, DJs, and playlisters, The Planes have built a small global fanbase — from London to New London.
Their current lineup includes drummer Josh “The Hitman” Inman, guitarist Patrick “The Hitman” Porter, and bassist Mike “The Hitman” Petzinger. Their new EP, *Motel for Lightning Bug*, is available now.
One standout track, “Cliff Diver,” is a hidden gem on *Motel for Lightning Bug*, and only begins to scratch the surface of the intricate ways this band toes the line between tradition and lofty visions. With explosive psychedelia that grabs your soul as soon as you hit play, and distant yet palpable vocals that carry the lushness of shoegaze, The Planes deliver a unique sound that is both familiar and fresh.
This familiarity is quickly disrupted by raw guitar riffs. The acrobatic guitar work acts as the star of the show on “Cliff Diver,” with warping melodies driving the animated feeling you get as you press play. While the guitar work is impressive, it is far from the only reason this song is becoming a favorite from *Motel for Lightning Bug*.
It is the psychedelic atmosphere created when those guitars collide with thudding drums, and the way the arrangement performs an ethereal dance with the vocals while staying rooted in the realities explored in the lyrics. “Cliff Diver” is just part of the reason The Planes’ latest project is a proper introduction to this ever-evolving band.
“‘Cliff Diver’ is an affirmation of life of sorts. Something that I think I needed to help myself manage these times,” explains Perry. “I wrote the song when I heard Screaming Females broke up; Marissa Paternoster is one of the few people who have inspired me to play kinda heavy guitar riffs. I feel like this song is an oddball in our catalog, but it fits perfectly on this EP.”
https://glidemagazine.com/319473/listen-the-planes-craft-explosive-psychedelia-with-acrobatic-guitars-on-cliff-diver/