Flight 602

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-03-10 rating:
Not what I'd "Aim" for (get it?)
I'm a huge fan of Aim, and rushed out to get this album when it dropped. I was pleased to see that his laid back, head-bobbable beats are there in abundance, but hugely disappointed to find he'd left out the MC's! What's hiphop without an MC?!

To be fair, however, the artist doing most of the vocals is very talented, and she complements the tunes perfectly with her soulful, almost jazz-like style. But it's a style I'm not fond of, and don't immediately associate with Aim. Had I listened to the album before purchasing I may have reconsidered and saved my cash for another day.

This is a good album in its own right, but it's a good album in a different style to that which I thought I was getting, based on past experience. So be warned, it may pay to have a listen, but if you're into a more jazzy sound then this might be the album for you...

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review by: date: 2007-03-13 rating:
Great lp, good progression..
Aim's third album, Flight 602, hits us with something slighty different than his previous long players. Nothing drastically different however, in my opinion, with the exception of lack of emcee's (which as a pure Hip Hop fan, I have no problem with whatsoever), this is more of the same funky and melodic tunes we've come to expect. I find myself admittedly at this early stage of listening, to say this is his most complete album to date. Walking Home Through The Park, Aberdeen and the title track are standout tracks, and for anyone who owns Andy Turners previous albums, this should be a must buy.

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review by: date: 2006-11-01 rating:
Summer sun or winter rain?
It's funny what first impressions you get of things. I'd been waiting patiently for this third Aim LP to be released, after falling in love with Andy Turners first two albums. Albums that sound so unlike all the other hip hop albums out there, the hip hop albums that a fusion of Portishead and Massive Attack never made. Blissed out beats yet harsh overtones, haunting vocals and raps that know what they want to say but are in no rush to say it. Music that paints an uncompromising landscape but one viewed from inside, in the cosy warmth of your own home.
Getting back to those first impressions. The first thought I got when seeing the cd cover was that the font was "soft", and that the picture was an altogether warmer affair than the previous scenes (sunlight anyone?!). That in a nutshell is my problem with this album. All the hard edges from the previous works have been polished away, leaving an album that is subtlety different in tone. It's an album that gently washes over you, with no tracks that really stand out. There is certainly nothing here like "demonique" to scare young children, who shouldn't be listening anyway, into hiding beneath their duvets. The sound is now softer and warmer, the beats more rounded and the vocals pleasant. I have no problem with the lack of rappers, the tracks featuring Kate Rogers on the previous albums are among my favourite but the vocals here just drift by like clouds on a sunny day. The landscape has now shifted to quiet walk through a wood on a warm summer day.
This album would be fine to listen to while watching the sun setting by a campfire down the beach but not for those times when you want your music to be just a little bit disturbing. It's a definite change of direction from Andy Turner, your view on whether it works probably will depend on whether you wish aim was just a bit more mainstream or whether you like the music just the way it is.

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review by: date: 2006-10-13 rating:
A Big Step In A New Direction
That's really what Aim's new album is - most of his material prior to Flight 602 has been fairly passive stuff - nothing life-changing; just some chilled, soothing background tracks. When we get to the new album , however, Andy Turner seems to realize that he needs to start being taken seriously. And, after one listen, one cannot help but grant him this - Aim has completely dropped the rap elements that prevailed in his older work, and begun to create intricate compositions as opposed to his former, slightly formulaic background loops. The absence of rap on Andy's new tracks really helps his true musicality and potential shine through - overall, it's a fantastic work that far surpassed my expectations, and proves that Aim really is more than just a backing track writer - 5/5!


review by: scoppied date: 2006-09-24 rating:
What, no MC's?
Mancunian beat wizard Andy Turner has gathered a favourable following with Aim's two studio albums and collected early works. Combining meaty beats, soulful, artfully placed samples and talented guest vocalists he has proved himself as one of Britain's best hip hop producers. His decision to drop the traditional vocal style associated with hip hop - rapping - from his new album entirely is a brave one nonetheless, and may cause concern among purists.

Going solo from Grandcentral records, Aim's third LP proper is another exercise in squelchy bass, screaming horns and Turner's own impeccable feel for the funk, with labelmate Niko providing vocals. Without the emphasis on rhymes, his music is allowed to breath and expand naturally - as his best tracks always have done.

Teaming up with Niko for so much of this album was an inspired choice. On the confident strut of Northwest she warbles beautifully about rivers and map references, while the catchy yet experimental Puget Sound finds her in a more conversational mood with country guitar licks swooning around her.

Of the instrumental tracks, Birchwood (flutes, trumpets and tubas having a dogfight) and the LP's confident opener Walking Home Through The Park are definite highlights, while Pier 57 and Landlord are both simple but effective bass-driven booty shakers, incorporating birdsong and canned laughter respectively to add something a little different.

Unfortunately there are some errors of judgement that sometimes derail the listener's appreciation. On Smile for example, a grating horn sample is overused to such an extent that it ruins what is otherwise a perfectly good tune. There are also a few too many long "atmospheric" pauses within tracks; they work well in Pinter's plays, but not on dance albums.

Despite these minor slips, Aim has produced yet another beautifully balanced LP, and has continued to move on his sound while retaining what made it so easy to listen to on Cold Water Music. The minimalist bass/piano pulse on the album's title track and the final guitar strumalong It's Later Than You Think suggest Turner is keeping his options, and his mind, open, which can only bode well for the future.

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