Album Review: The Night Flight Orchestra - Give Us The Moon
Reviewed by Rich Oliver
The profile of The Night Flight Orchestra continues to build and build. Originally formed as a side project by members of Soilwork - Björn “Speed” Strid and David Andersson - whilst on tour from a mutual love of classic AOR, The Night Flight Orchestra have grown and grown in stature with multiple albums, Swedish Grammy nominations and plenty of touring including huge festivals shows and even a support slot for the legendary KISS. Their seventh album “Give Us The Moon” is the first one since the tragic death of founding member David Andersson but sees the band continue to deliver their trademark mix of AOR, classic rock and retro pop all combined together in thirteen joyous songs.
“Give Us The Moon” is a full on nostalgia trip back to the sounds of the 1980’s with the gorgeous retro synths from John Lönnmyr up front and centre and is just a non-stop album of feel-good anthems. The songs themselves are as catchy and hook-laden as it gets and absolute sing-along anthems with tunes such as ‘Stratus’, ‘Like The Beating Of A Heart’ and the title track guaranteed to remain in your head for days after listening. There are some more rocking moments such as ‘Cosmic Tide’ and ‘Way To Spend The Night’ whilst the emotional heart of the band comes to the fore in ‘Paloma’ and ‘Runaways’.
Funk and disco sounds also make themselves well and truly heard in the irresistible ‘A Paris Point Of View’. The guitar duo of Sebastian Forslund and Rasmus Ehrnborn work wonders with some especially tasty guitar solos whilst the rhythm section of drummer Jonas Källsbäck and bassist Sharlee D’Angelo keep everything in check with the superb bass playing especially driving these songs. The vocals from Björn “Speed” Strid are on point as always and his vocals seems to get better and better with every album and he is ably assisted by backing singers Anna Brygard and Åsa Lundman. The three singers work together in sublime fashion.
The Night Flight Orchestra claim “Give Us The Moon” to be the most cinematic offering from the band to date and it’s hard to argue with that statement as these songs all sound like they could come straight from the soundtrack to a classic 80’s movie. The band have delivered another killer bunch of songs which are so catchy they should probably come with a warning. The band channels the classic AOR bands of the 70’s and 80’s as well as a bunch of classic pop with more than a little bit of ABBA heard throughout. Yet again it is simply a joyous and feel-good album that The Night Flight Orchestra have delivered and in current times it is exactly what is needed.
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