The Blue Aeroplanes - China Brilliance Automotive (Single Review)
Sunday, 19 September 2010
Written by Jacob Mier
A new single released to mark The Blue Aeroplanes' takeover of legendary Bristol venue The Fleece, 'China Brilliance Automotive' captures the cult art-rock outfit's verve, diversity and style as well as any track from their early-90's heyday.
Taken from sessions recorded for their forthcoming album 'Anti-Gravity', which won't be released until next year, the single is the first evidence of new material from the band since 2006's critical renaissance 'Altitude'. Frontman Gerard Langley seems as hellbent on channeling the kooky pop aesthetic of Lou Reed and David Bowie as ever, and where countless others have tried and wilted, he succeeds and blossoms to a definite degree.
Coloured with a similar repetitive guitar hook to that of 'Vicious' and charged by a vibrant percussion section that encompasses the primal pulse of bongo drums, 'China...' draws the line between experimentalism and accessibility with a fine-tip pen. Echoes of Louis MacNeice and the early Who offer resonance, and while the song does seem to belong on a 1960's New York coffee shop player, there's something forward-looking, innovative and revelatory about that aspect of its charm.
Stereoboard Rating: 8/10
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Taken from sessions recorded for their forthcoming album 'Anti-Gravity', which won't be released until next year, the single is the first evidence of new material from the band since 2006's critical renaissance 'Altitude'. Frontman Gerard Langley seems as hellbent on channeling the kooky pop aesthetic of Lou Reed and David Bowie as ever, and where countless others have tried and wilted, he succeeds and blossoms to a definite degree. 
