Aeroplane
We Can't Fly
Release Date: Nov 30, 2010
Genre(s): Electronic, Club/Dance
Record label: Ultra Records
Music Critic Score
How the Music Critic Score works
Buy We Can't Fly from Amazon
Album Review: We Can't Fly by Aeroplane
Average, Based on 6 Critics
Based on rating 3/5
Aeroplane were a pair of Belgian DJ/remixers whose star was made by a sumptuous remix of Friendly Fires' Paris, which had the symbiotic effect of making them both more popular. An act in their own right, their biplane became a solo flight in June when Stephen Fasano bailed out to leave Vito de Luca to it. The Belgian has been working on the songs that make up We Can't Fly for the last three years, changing arrangements and adding vocalists such as Gimme Shelter backing singer Merry Clayton as well as relative newbies like Sky Ferreira.
Based on rating 5/10
The Italian/Belgian duo Aeroplane made a name for themselves in the late 2000s with remixes (most notably for Friendly Fires' “Paris”), and though they lost a member along the way, arrived with a full-length album in late 2010. Featuring many guest appearances and a wide-ranging sound that takes in elements of prog rock, disco, alt-rock, modern club sounds, and old-school electronic music, We Can’t Fly is an ambitious debut by an artist (Vito Deluca) who may have bitten off more than he can chew. The songs like "We Can’t Fly" and "Caramellas" that stick to the established Aeroplane sound of very smooth, very sleek electro-pop work the best; they have a restrained and warm feeling that conjures up late-night chillout sessions (in a good way).
Based on rating 2.5/5
Better known as a DJ and remixing duo (see their rejig of [b]Friendly Fires[/b]’ ‘[b]Paris[/b]’), [b]Aeroplane[/b] is now the work of one man: [b]Vito Deluca[/b]. Those looking for blissed-out bloghaus bangers, try elsewhere. The title track is an odd teaming of Manu Chao, Sesame Street and Balearic house. Even more oddly, it works.
Based on rating 4.4/10
For the past couple of years, Aeroplane have been the best kind of music geek secret. A pop-disco production duo from Belgium, Aeroplane have released a sporadic but endlessly enjoyable stream of singles, remixes, and collaborations since 2007. It was a bit heartbreaking when Vito De Luca and Stephen Fasano announced their breakup this summer; they cited artistic differences (De Luca will carry on as Aeroplane).
Based on rating 4/10
If it were possible to wear out MP3s then my precious handful of Aeroplane singles would’ve degraded into unlistenable digital-fuzz months ago. My last.fm groans under the weight of playcounts for the likes of ‘Pacific Air Race’, ‘Whispers’ and ‘Above The Clouds’, whilst as DJs their monthly mixtapes are downloaded in their thousands. Up to now, everything Aeroplane have touched has left behind a shimmering contrail of languorous disco, a sound that’s as effortless as it is affecting.
Opinion: Very Good
Debut album of Balearic madness from Belgian DJ/remixer. Paul Lester 2010 The departure of Stephen Fasano from production duo Aeroplane has hardly dented Vito De Luca’s confidence. If anything it has given him the green light to indulge his every musical whim. We Can’t Fly contains everything plus the kitchen sink: big guitar solos, jabbing piano chords, oceanic keyboard washes, menacing synth burbles – and that’s just the opening instrumental, Mountains of Moscow, a title that alludes to the pomp and circumstance, magnificence and preposterousness to come.
'We Can't Fly'
is available now