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As good as all of Grand Central’s Records releases are, including Cold Water Music and Hinterland, Flight 602 is arguably Aim’s (aka Andy Turner) strongest release to date.

The introduction says, “This record is an adventure in mind expansion” but this flight is no psychedelic trip. In fact, it’s a little bit difficult to place exactly where it’s coming from and going to. I finally found it (I think) by coincidence as I was listening to ‘Walking Home Through The Park’ as when walking through Russell Square. Its got some twangy guitar (also see Trost - a bit of a trend?) with some fiddle and brass band. It sounds an odd mix but on a sunny day, I felt compelled to have a sit down and soak up the sun’s rays and enjoy the feel good factor of the tune.

Turner is from Barrow In Furness but the track ‘Northwest’ is anything but an industrial landscape. Similar to ‘Walking Home Through The Park’, this time with bongos, a touch of vibes and the bonus of Niko (also Grand Central) on vocals it keeps the mellow mood.

By the time of ‘Smile’ you’re thinking the world is a better place. ‘Puget Sound’ is a proper indie pop and could get picked up by the advertising execs, nice slide guitar and flute.

To continue the park theme, ‘Pier 57’ starts with the sound of twittering birds (OK, Russell Square is no Berkeley Square) but it’s a good time synth bounce and guitar; almost Fleetwood Macish.

The second half of the album is a little more ‘obvious’. ‘Landlord’ is a bad title from my stand point and probably tarnishes any objective view. I’ve nothing against ‘Aberdeen’ (the City) but this track is very dreamlike as Niko’s vocals get pushed to the background (which is a shame). ‘Interview’ has a moody start and matures into a laid back chill instrumental.

The highlights for me are ‘Smile’ that got me jumping around the fountain as it’s the most breaks-cum-jazz of the set along with the uptempo funky break, jazzy horns and swirling strings of ‘Birchwood’. The title track keeps the mood upbeat but it’s the closing track, ‘It’s Later Than You Think’ that’s catches a certain ‘Tunng’ moment.

Flight 602 is not only Turner’s new album but it is also the launch of his label, Atic Records. I saw a bloke at Bestival with an Aim t-shirt on and it’s that sort of vibe that he’s achieved with this CD. It’s another CD that grows on you with every listen and it’ll be worth checking how it transfers to a live setting on the forthcoming tour.

Reviewed: Aim - Flight 602 (Atic Records) Cat. No. ATCCD001 Release date: 25th September 2006

Hectic Mix nomination: ‘Smile’, ‘Birchwood’, ‘Interview’, ‘It’s Later Than You Think’ and ‘Puget Sound’

Tracklisting:
1. Intro #3 (1:24)
2. Walking Home Through The Park (5:47)
3. Northwest (4:45)
4. Puget Sound (4:05)
5. Pier 57 (3:59)
6. Smile (5:12)
7. Landlord (4:02)
8. Aberdeen (4:26)
9. Birchwood (4:43)
10. Flight 602 (5:16)
11. Interview (5:52)
12. It’s Later Than You Think (3:24)

UK Tour:
Friday 6th Oct — The Plug, Sheffield
Saturday 7th Oct — The Warehouse Project, Manchester
Thursday 19th Oct — The Cockpit, Leeds
Thursday 26th Oct — The Liquid Room, Edinburgh
Friday 27th Oct — King Tuts Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow
Saturday 28th Oct — The Reading Rooms, Dundee
Wednesday 8th Nov — Koko, London

Links:
www.myspace.com/aimflight602
www.aticrecords.com