In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

About In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

In the Aeroplane Over the Sea is the second album by American rock band Neutral Milk Hotel. It was released on February 10, 1998, by Merge Records. In the Aeroplane Over the Sea features a lo-fi sound influenced by indie rock and psychedelic folk. Guitars and drums are paired with less conventional instruments including the singing saw, zanzithophone, and Uilleann pipes. The tempo sometimes abruptly shifts from song to song, while a heavy layer of distortion permeates the music. The lyrics are surrealistic and opaque, with themes ranging from nostalgia to love. Bandleader Jeff Mangum was influenced by the life of Anne Frank, the teenage diarist who died in a Nazi concentration camp. In the Aeroplane Over the Sea was recorded at Pet Sounds Studio, from July to September 1997. Producer Robert Schneider worked with Mangum to improve upon the lo-fi sound of Neutral Milk Hotel's first album On Avery Island. To create the heavy layer of distortion found throughout the album, Schneider used heavy compression and placed a Bellari RP-220 tube mic pre-amp close to Mangum's guitar. Schneider then ran the sound through a mixing console, and maxed out the sound on a cassette tape. To promote the album, Neutral Milk Hotel embarked on a tour of the United States and Europe. The band gained a reputation for their chaotic and physically demanding performances, which often scared the audience members. more »