• Artist: Chad VanGaalen
• Album: Soft Airplane
• Label: Sub Pop
• Release: 2008
• Links: Flemish Eye, MySpace

Soft Airplane begins with two of Chad VanGaalen’s finest compositions to date, but only serve as a precursor for the surprises that his third full length packs. “Willow Tree” perfects the intimate folk that VanGaalen has tinkered with on his previous releases. The song segues immediately into “Bones Of Man,” a mid-tempo rocker that adds more fuel to the frequent Neil Young comparisons that are tossed VanGaalen’s way. The first five songs on the album visit familiar, yet refined territory for VanGaalen. It isn’t until Soft Airplane arrives at “Phantom Anthills” that he decides to throw a true curveball.

The electronic blips of “Phantom Anthills” represent the beginning of VanGaalen’s most experimental song cycle to date. There are softer moments scattered around (the haunting “Molten Light” and the forgettable Destroyer-esque “City Of Electric Light”), but the second half of Soft Airplane is anything but quiet. “TMNT Mask” is a such a trip that any attempt at a description would fall short. However, I can reveal to you that TMNT does equal Teenage Mutant Nina Turtles, in case you were wondering. These sonic explorations climax with “Frozen Energon,” a closing instrumental that would make Thurston Moore grin proudly.

Despite how much the album jumps around, VanGaalen retains a high level of consistency. His previous effort, 2006’s Skelliconnection, had some trouble with this. When I interviewed VanGaalen prior to that album’s release, he admitted to me that he had a great deal of trouble sequencing it. I am curious to know if he encountered similar issues with the adventurous Soft Airplane. Regardless, it does a much better job of balancing his singer/songwriter and experimental tendencies. VanGaalen continues to prove that he is one of Sub Pop’s most dynamic artists and Soft Airplane is only further confirmation.

Tour
9/21/08 – New York, NY – Blender Theatre @ Gramercy (with Giant Sand)
10/2/08 – Ottawa, Ontario – Zaphod Beeblebrox (with Women)
10/3/08 – Montreal, Quebec – Ukrainian Federation (with Women and Julie Doiron)
10/4/08 – Toronto, Ontario – The Mod Club (with Women)
10/9/08 – Vancouver, BC – Richards on Richards
10/10/08 – Victoria, BC – Sugar Nightclub
10/11/08 – Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge (with Giant Sand)
10/12/08 – Seattle, WA – Triple Door (with Giant Sand)
10/17/08 – Edmonton – McDougall United Church (WCMA CBCRadio3 showcase)
10/25/08 – Calgary – The Uptown Stage

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