Lets get this out the way early on, Joe Sumner is the son of Gordon Sumner, otherwise known as Sting from that little known beat combo – The Police. Comparisons on all levels are inevitable to an extent so here we go, father and son both do vocals and bass and have a distinctive nasal vocal style (and apparently, Fiction Plane is also an anagram of Infant Police......).   

As a band Fiction Plane are also a trio that skirt around some of the white reggae influenced rock that The Police mined so successfully and on “Two Sisters” , this albums lead single, Sumner Jnr has plundered Sumner Sr's “The Beds Too Big Without You” wholesale, albeit with an entirely oppposite lyrical stance (theres also shades of  “Walking On The Moon” in drums in the outro of “Cross the Line”). 

Originally a four piece, and now trimmed down to a trio Fiction Plane quote collective influences that include such alternative rock luminaries as The Pixies, Nirvana and Radiohead. “Left Side Of The Brain” does show some of this lineage but in a very diluted form, what you have with this record is a very polished modern rock album very much in a similar vein to recent offerings from Stereophonics, Feeder or U2 for example. 

This sound should go down a storm on the upcoming dates Fiction Plane have supporting The Police on their reunion tour as the shared origins between the bands should definitely work in Fiction Planes favour. This should expose them to a sizeable new audience and despite the fact that there will always be doubters claiming that Fiction Plane are only in this elevated position through nepotism the band display enough collective talent on “Left Side Of The Brain”  to justify the additional attention.

Let us know your views on Left Side Of The Brain

Track Listing

Anyone
Death Machine
Two Sisters
It's A Lie
Left Side Of The Brain
Cold Water Symmetry
Running The Country
Drink
Presuppose
Cross The Line
Fake Light From The Sun

Line Up

Joe Sumner – Bass/Vocals
Seton Daunt – Guitar
Pete Wilhoit – Drums