Biography
Riding Paper Airplanes is a one-man musical project based out of Seattle, one which combines the subtle electronic nuances of The Postal Service and The Notwist with the bombastic anthem-pop of U2 and Ride. John Wu is the man behind this endeavor, a former member of the Seattle combo Autumn Sonata, and his new project continues that band's grandiose indie-rock with waves of glitches, fuzz, and thumps. The metaphorical ghosts of Ben Gibbard and David Bazan haunt Wu's melancholy and airy fits of inspiration, and there's even the shoegazed aura of M83 replacing the typical guitar chorus on various tunes. Riding Paper Airplanes adequately caters to both the organic and electronic fan in all of us, and this self-titled release has enough catchiness and confidence to hint at much more to come.
Emerging from Seattle, WA, Riding Paper Airplanes is the solo project of John Wu, formerly of Autumn Sonata and Yesan Damen. Drawing upon influences ranging from pop songs to movie soundtracks, Riding Paper Airplanes' debut paints a stunningly diverse soundscape by incorporating both electronic and acoustic instruments. Despite utilizing a potentially confusing palette of sound, the mixing by Morgan Sound journeyman Zak Dewey at ZDPro Studios skillfully sorts it out.
Ranging from bubbling synth-pop to darker, vocal-based electro, John's ability to incorporate his varying influences is illustrated throughout the album's progression. While it may be difficult to pin down an overall-specific style, each "sound" he attempts is executed in a way that is both on point and true to form. Within these varying approaches to style, his strength and consistency as a songwriter are apparent, and serve to further reinforce the overall themes of the album.
From the opening notes of "Homecoming Weekend in a Small Town" to the haunting finish of "Lying on a Hill, Watching Clouds on a Saturday," Riding Paper Airplanes takes listener on a journey by means of songs rich in emotional and musical content. Here, dreams take precedence over regret, and fond memories and hopeful sentiment abound. The commingling of John's warm voice with a rich array of accompanying sounds creates an undeniable sonic appeal that is automatically engaging.
Through his songs, John's object is to convey an overall ineffable feeling to people, rather than a specific story or a message. The effort attempts to evoke new concepts for the listener, while retaining a familiar base within the compelling rhythms and melodies. The result is sure to please listeners looking for something fresh and adventurous, and is a sign of things to come from a promising young musician.
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