CD Review

Artist: Chad VanGaalen

CD: Soft Airplane

Release Date: September 9^th, 2008

Record Label: (Flemish Eye Records)  

Reviewed by: Gabor Pertic (Toronto Correspondent – Canada)

Calgary-native Chad VanGaalen attempts to be somewhat of an artistic renaissance man. Aside from being a singer/songwriter, he also designs the artwork for his albums as well as doing the animation for his music videos. On Soft Airplane, his third full-length LP, VanGaalen even designed a unique mechanical drum machine that can be heard on “Cries of the Dead”. The man is clearly immersed in many aspects of the art world and it is this Machiavellian approach that simultaneously helps and hinders the overall production of Soft Airplane.

Kicking off the album with “Willow Tree”, you may initially get a sense that you are listening to Sufjan Stevens’ next attempt at documenting yet another state (perhaps Nebraska or Missouri). This is by no means a bad thing as the light banjo plucking mixed with cryptic lyrics is fairly inviting. As the album progresses, however, and VanGaalen begins to use synthesizers, vibraphones, and drum machines, the album starts to lose a little of that initial focus and constraint.

The lo-fi sound merged with the many instruments in VanGaalen’s arsenal make for a very post-modern record. VanGaalen is attempting to fit as many unique arrangements into individual tracks and, for the most part, it works. The electro-dance rhythm of “TMNT Mask” has undeniable head-bobbing qualities while the lo-fi rolling guitar riff in “Bare feet on wet griptape” recall Neutral Milk Hotel’s lo-fi masterpiece album In the Aeroplane Over the Sea.

Near the end of the album, when VanGaalen starts to do more experimental noise rock, the result gets kind of messy and feels a bit unnecessary. The last section of “Old Man + The Sea” as well as the album closer “Frozen Energon” suffer from cluttered drones that may intend to be a dizzying crescendo of sound but ultimately just sound tedious and overproduced.

Soft Airplane is a marginally ambitious effort that often works. VanGaalen strays from a focused path at times but, when he keeps his composure and demonstrates a certain artistic restraint, the album really takes off. 

Track Listing:

1) Willow Tree – 3:14

2) Bones of Man – 2:59

3) Cries of the Dead – 3:47

4) Inside the Molecules – 3:46

5) Bare feet on wet griptape – 2:30

6) Phantom Anthills – 3:01

7) Poisonous Heads – 3:15

8) TMNT Mask – 3:29

9) Molten Light – 2:52

10) Old Man + The Sea – 3:36

11) City of Electric Light – 2:33

12) Rabid Bits of Time – 3:24

13) Frozen Energon – 3:40