What makes Aeroplane stand out straight away is how exposed it is. With this album, Connie Lansberg strips everything back to just voice and guitar, and trusts that to carry the entire weight of the record. No overdubs, no second chances, just performance in its purest form.
That kind of setup can be risky, but here it works because of the chemistry between Lansberg and guitarist Brad Rabuchin. There’s a natural flow between them that you can’t really manufacture. It feels like they’re responding to each other in real time, which gives the album a sense of movement even in its quieter moments.
What I like most is how the album embraces imperfection. You can hear the room, the subtle shifts in timing, the small details that would normally be edited out. Instead of distracting from the music, those elements make it feel more real. It’s less about presenting a flawless version of the songs and more about capturing them as they exist in the moment.
Vocally, Lansberg keeps things controlled but expressive. She doesn’t push for big, dramatic moments. Instead, she focuses on tone and phrasing, letting the emotion come through in a more understated way. That restraint makes the performance feel more intimate, like the listener is being brought into the space rather than kept at a distance.
The guitar work follows the same approach. Rabuchin doesn’t try to dominate the sound. He supports, responds, and leaves space where it’s needed. That balance is what keeps the album from feeling empty despite its minimal setup.
There’s also a quiet confidence in how the songs move across styles. While the foundation is clearly rooted in jazz, the songwriting isn’t confined to it. You can hear different influences come through, but everything is tied together by the simplicity of the arrangement.
For me, what makes Aeroplane work is its honesty. It doesn’t rely on production or layering to create impact. It relies on performance, connection, and the strength of the songs themselves.
It feels immediate, unfiltered, and completely present.
And that’s what makes it stay with you.
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