Little Plastic Pilots- Little Plastic Pilots

Artist: Little Plastic Pilots
CD Title: Little Plastic Pilots
Label: Kanpai Records
Reviewer: Matthew Johnson
Date: 9/18/05

Little Plastic Pilots is the solo project of Sam Nelson, who also sings for the alternative rock band H Is Orange. As Little Plastic Pilots, however, he goes in an entirely different direction by exploring the softer side of experimental techno: think Aphex Twin without the black humor or Mu-Ziq without the distortion. While these tracks tend towards ambient rather than dance music, Nelson displays a good sense of rhythm, with mellow jazzy breakbeats and a hint of hip-hop scratching on “There’s A Shipwreck Down There/From LA to Lamey.” “A Courtyard Full of Sun” also displays some hip-hop influences, and samples of a worn piano record add an additional level of warmth to the relaxing tones and birdlike chirps. At times, things can get a little too charming and clever for their own good, as evidenced by the “Speak ‘n’ Spell” voice clips on “Words and Letters In Colors,” but there are some moments of weird brilliance as well, like the playful analog twittering of “The Grumpy Chinaman” and “Fighting Action Figures.” While Little Plastic Pilots is never quite as challenging a listen as some of the other artists from this genre, this is nonetheless a great mood enhancer of an album, calm and tranquil without sinking into New Age flimsiness.

Visit www.kanpairecords.com for more information, or visit the Little Plastic Pilots page on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/littleplasticpilots