The Higher Planes

Six-dimensional, star-powered soul love orchestra.

THE SURREAL STORY

After having a bright idea, the Higher Planes went out one day and bought a cauldron. In it they added some boys and girls, some rock and roll rhythms, the leftovers from the night before's Memphis soul stew, some harmonies, and some pagan eschatology. After pouring it all out into the middle of a stone circle during Samhain, they left to purchase assorted musical instruments, and educate themselves about their forms and potentials in order that they should travel and play throughout the land. When they returned to the stone circle to eat what grew there, they became aghast to find their shadow forms, born of the soup and soil, playing a very reasonable cover of a nice Van Morrison tune. The two groups fought, until the shadow Planes, in a sublime moment of victory, ate the real ones, and stepped into the light to live and play as the humans do.

THE REAL STORY

Jon and Adam are brothers who have been writing songs together for over 10 years. They grew up in a sleepy commuter town in Surrey, then both studied at Southampton University. They moved to London after a year-long adventure in the south of France, and formed the band with friends and housemates in Camberwell. The Higher Planes performed at venues across London, and in 2017 toured the UK with Hurray for The Riff Raff. Recently they recorded two new songs at The Strongroom, "You Know" and "Keep Your Lamplight Burning Low", which are about to be released. These were recorded with former drummer Ginger Drage, trumpeter George Diaper and saxophonist Rich Muscat. They write songs about humans as downtrodden lovers, lying politicians, troubled friends, and apocalyptic visionaries. Their sound is psych soul and there's a lot of four-part harmonies involved.

REVIEWS

"After an opening number with distinctive harmony singing that sounds a little like Midlake I start to think I’m listening to late 1960s Big Brother and the Holding Company or Jefferson Airplane. That American West Coast sound really comes through, with elements of psych, folk, gospel and soul. They look the part too and joke about getting some horns and being a soul band. However, they’re no retro 60s outfit and they deliver a compelling and diverse performance, with great songs and musicianship."
Gig Junkies, 2017

"Higher Planes convey a truly aesthetically pleasing set up, with two fiercely soulful male singer/guitarists on one side, and two equally strong female backing vocalists on the other. Granted, these ladies bring a sense of glamour to the occasion, but it would be churlish and downright rude not to acknowledge that they are also a key part of what gives them their sound. The four-part harmonies really are a treat; Adam Seakens cutting a Richard Thompson like figure (albeit with neater hair) and his brother Jon, despite possessing a speaking voice reminiscent of Rupert Bear, has a set of lungs so powerful that anyone wearing a wig had better hold on tight."
God Is In The TV Zine, 2017

"The Planes have got a refreshing take on an old format. (...) the band has an enviable knack for songcraft. This gift gives their 60s stylings a timeless quality."
"In contrast to their catchy grooves, The Higher Planes populate their songs with imagery of lying politicians, downtrodden lovers and the occasional dose of psychedelic nihilism."
"We have love, soul, heartbreak and harmony coming together to deliver a sound that's thought provoking and fun. So turn on with us and join the psychedelic revolution of the Higher Planes!"
Big Tree Music, 2016

"In a bout of well timed divine guidance The Higher Planes, like prophets, dropped down to the Cosmosis festival of Psychedelia in Manchester with an important message to project, and I perceived it as this: don’t forget your roots."
"...cosmic minded, blues beaten troubadours"
"...sublime artistic discovery"
Far Out Magazine, 2014