Comprised of Casey Call (vocals, keys, synths, guitar), Joe Gamble (guitar), David LeDuc (bass), Kristine Stresman (keys, synths, vocals, percussion), Shön Troth (lap steel guitar), Joe Call (drums) and Jessica Anderson (drums), Enemy Planes is a collective of some of the Minneapolis, MN area’s most accomplished indie artists, as the band’s members have had stints in regionally and nationally recognized acts such as Solid Gold, G.A.Y.N.G.S., Pictures of Then and others. Interestingly, Enemy Planes may be a bit of a departure for folks who remember each member in their previous projects as the Minneapolis-based septet’s sound possesses elements of trip-hop, art pop, art rock, ambient electronica, synth pop and several other genres in a way that feels and sounds indebted to Kid A-era Radiohead, Massive Attack and The National — and yet also manages to sound as though their influences were indiscernible as you’ll hear on “We Want Blood,” the trippy and moody latest single off the band’s recently released full-length debut Beta Lowdown.
The recently released video possesses equally as haunting and disturbing imagery as it focuses on themes of natural destruction and decay, loneliness, death and renewal — while metaphorically (and perhaps literally) reminding the viewer that those things are constant and unchanging; and unsurprisingly, some of the images will linger way after you’ve watched the video — for me, the female protagonist at the gutted boardwalk and the man carrying what appears to be a corpse in a plastic bag are images I can’t shake.
Enemy Planes are in the middle of a tour to support Beta Lowdown and it includes an NYC area date — May 5 at Piano’s. Check out tour dates below.
04.29 – Grand Rapids, MI – Tip Top
05.03 – Cambridge, MA – Atwoods Tavern
05.05 – New York, NY – Pianos
05.06 – Philadelphia, PA – Dawson Street Pub
05.07 – Rehoboth Beach, DE – Dogfish Head Brewing & Eats
05.10 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Tavern
05.11 – Detroit, MI – PJ’s Lager House
05.12 – Chicago, IL – Beat Kitchen