At their best, the Aluminum Group craft gorgeously lush and airy chamber-pop on a par with the finest the genre has to offer; at their worst, they sound like a second-rate Magnetic Fields, with vocals eerily like the coffin-creaking of Stephen Merritt but without the biting lyrical wit or the uncanny melodic sophistication. Fortunately, the Aluminums' strengths typically win out on Plano -- for every misstep like the terribly-derivative synth-pop of "Angel on a Trampoline," there's a melancholy gem like the opening "Chocolates," "The Mattachine Society" or "Star Wish" which verges on absolute perfection. Also like the Magnetic Fields, the songs of the Navin brothers frequently portray a frank and unsentimental homoerotic worldview, but ultimately the record is much less about sexuality than it is universal emotional truths -- expertly produced by Dave Trumfio, Plano, for all of its flaws, resonates with a timeless and heartbreaking beauty. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
Susan Voelz (Violin), Diana Parmeter (Cello), Roger Seibel (Mastering), Sally Timms (Vocals (Background)), David Trumfio (Keyboards), David Trumfio (Programming), David Trumfio (Sound Effects), David Trumfio (Producer), David Trumfio (Engineer), David Trumfio (Drum Machine), Mike Hagler (Engineer), Harry Trumfio (Drum Technician), John Ridenour (Guitar), John Ridenour (Vocals (Background)), Ken Sluiter (Engineer), Ken Sluiter (Mixing), Aluminum Group (Producer), Aluminum Group (Ensemble), Aluminum Group (Main Performer), Aluminum Group (Horn Arrangements), Stacia Spencer (Viola), Jhno (Loops), Liz Conant (Piano), Liz Conant (Keyboards), Liz Conant (Moog Synthesizer), Liz Conant (String Arrangements), Nora O'Connor (Vocals (Background))
