Ten years ago, Pete Wilkinson – trading under the guise of AVIATOR – beat John Power to the punch when the post-Cast solo projects started to drift in.
Though arriving with relatively little fanfare at the time of its release in October 2002, Aviator’s debut ‘Huxley Pig (Part 1)’ contained plenty to cherish, taking in everything from silvery, ethereal pop (‘Shoot The Crow’) to psychedelic wig-outs such as the memorable ‘Dancing Bear.’ It may not have topped too many charts, but it was a fine record on its own terms and it cried out for a follow-up which seemed less likely to materialise from the clouds as time dragged on.
Wilkinson did actually begin work on a second Aviator LP as long ago as 2004 with former Stairs guitarist Carl Cook, but any number of pressing commitments (working with Echo & The Bunnymen, re-joining Shack, the short-lived DC-10 project) prevented further progress. Ironically, now ‘Huxley Pig (Part 2)’ finally arrives, it’s on the back of a just-released LP from the reformed Cast (‘Troubled Times’ through Pledge Music) with whom Pete is also back in harness.
So let’s hope Cast’s re-emergence doesn’t relegate Aviator to the shadows, for ‘Huxley Pig Part 2’ has certainly been worth the wait. As with ‘...Part 1’, Wilkinson’s dreamy, breathy voice quietly glides centre-stage while admirable support comes from long-time acolytes drummer Keith O’Neill (Cast) and ex-La’s/ Lightning Seeds guitarist Paul Hemmings. Shack’s John Head, meanwhile, adroitly plays the super sub role, submitting some tastefully fluid extra guitar textures.
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Overall, the vibe’s not that far removed from ‘...Part 1’, with lush, psych-tinged guitar pop (‘By The By’, the elegant ‘Sometimes’) rubbing shoulders with slightly hazy, introspective outings such as ‘Here We Go’ and the yearning ‘San Francisco.’ Elsewhere, the two-steppin’ ‘Trampoline’ and ‘Cosmonaut’ – with its earthy blues harp – could almost be a roots-ier La’s while the extra tracks harbour further dappled brilliance, not least the ‘Revolver’-ish magic carpet ride of ‘Hazy Daze.’
It’s taken a long time for Aviator’s Pete Wilkinson to get clearance from air traffic control and make a second pass at pop’s congested runway. Thankfully, ‘Huxley Pig Part 2’ suggests that while he may have encountered some bouts of turbulence, he was happily cruising eight miles high all along.
The Viper Label online
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