Three seems to be the number for People In Planes as this is their third album and they are on their third band name. Originally known as Robots In The Sky the, then four-piece band from Cardiff, Wales released a psychedelic double A-side single on a local label before changing their name to Tetra Splendour. In May 2002 they released their first album Splendid Animation (EMI). A new direction had to found after an EMI restructure saw them released.
Following rather mixed reviews they decided on a slight shift in direction and People In Planes was born. Having been influenced by the Supergrass album I Should Coco they turned to its producer Sam Williams. Signing to New York’s Wind-Up Records, the band went to work on a new album, As Far As The Eye Can See, released in 2006. This followed a successful break through E.P. “If You Talk Too Much (My Head Will Explode)”.
The band consists of Gareth Jones (vocals/keyboards), Peter Roberts (guitar/vocals/synths & cello), Kris Blight (bass), John Maloney (drums), and Ian Russell (keyboards). Old school friend, Russell’s addition allowed Jones the chance to move away from the relative safety behind the keys and be more ‘out front’. They made an instant impression in the States and after a period of frenetic activity began to write material for Beyond The Horizon. Following their need to create diversity they worked with a total of four different producers and recorded in seven different studios from Wales to America.
Part of that journey saw them working alongside Alan Johannes and the late Natasha Schneider, who died shortly after following a battle with cancer. It is Natasha to whom the album is dedicated. Their experience with Eleven and Queens of the Stone Age proved a valuable developmental experience for the band. Working with the pair in their home based studio on the sonically spiralling “Better Than Life” (co-written by Natasha) resulted in one of the albums many standout moments.
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