The acclaimed Swedish Rock band THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA has released their seventh album, “Give Us The Moon”, via their new label Napalm Records. They have played at Wacken Open Air, for example, and opened for KISS at their very last two shows in Sweden at the legendary Dalhalla. The band has done several successful European tours and last summer there was also a Latin American tour. Soon they will be playing in a venue close to you. Prepare yourself for an exciting journey and romantic nostalgia, with inspiration from the years 1975 - 1985. They have been compared to REO SPEEDWAGON, BOSTON and a whole bunch of other artists, but I think TNFO has its own, unique style.
The band was founded in 2007 by members from, for example, SOILWORK and ARCH ENEMY. However, the sound is far from these two groups. THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA plays synth-based Retro Rock with the ingredients Pop Rock, Disco Music and AOR. Over the years, they have been nominated three times for the Swedish Grammis and collected millions of streams via their hits. TNFO also has a large international audience. Their concerts are incredibly entertaining. Both fantastic to see and hear, which I have experienced. The troupe’s stage costumes are a mix of the 70s and 80s, with glitter and shine, plus airline crew clothing. Singer Björn Strid (SOILWORK) is often seen as a pilot. Unlike Strid’s way of singing in his other group, he offers his fine, clear, velvety voice in this role. The two choir girls Anna Brygård and Åsa Lundman look like air-hostesses. Even though they are at the back of the stage, they definitely do not end up in the background visually. Brygård and Lundman contribute greatly to the overall impression of the show. They go through the entire safety regulations on the airplane and other typical things you recognize from your own travels, through their synchronized movements. Whether you see a concert or just listen to the songs, their music invites you to dance.
The new record contains a fantastic guitar playing, lovely drumming and bassist Sharlee D’Angelo (ARCH ENEMY, SPIRITUAL BEGGARS) is absolutely masterful. The keyboardist, as well as all the vocals from Björn, Anna and Åsa are brilliant. A good example of D’Angelo’s velvety bass playing can be found in “Shooting Velvet”, but he impresses throughout the entire album. Rasmus Ehrnborn’s and Sebastian Forslund’s guitar tones meanders around each other in “Like The Beating Of A Heart”, which sounds absolutely splendid.
An example of John Lönnmyr’s fantastic keyboard playing can be found in “Miraculous”. He paints a foundation, gives a strong decoration and is, so to speak, the icing on the cake. In addition to this, the guitar solo is truly heartfelt and delightful. The track “Paloma” is very pleasant to hear. The music has a varied tempo and the rhythm from Jonas Källsbäck’s drumming spreads through my body. Källsbäck’s easygoing and vivid style has a lovely pulse. He carries each song forward as steadily as a professional pilot steers his plane.
The captain behind the microphone is exceptionally good in “Way To Spend The Night”. Strid occasionally has a lower pitch in the verses. In the chorus he skillfully and with strength sets the high notes. “Stewardess, Empress, Hot Mess (And The Captain Of Pain)” begins with beautiful piano playing. The calm beginning soon changes to a higher tempo. In the middle of the piece you almost think the song is over, because it slows down quite suddenly, but then the pace increases again. The solo part is synth-based and atmospheric. We also hear 1970s-80s beats. The track is almost eight minutes, but somehow it doesn’t feel that long. Almost glittering, slightly echoing tones end the song and the album.
Just like their best material “Amber Galactic” (2017) and “Sometimes The World Ain’t Enough” (2018), the new “Give Us The Moon” has a very lovely atmosphere and dance rhythm, which is characteristic for THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA. They invite us to a glittering universe with glamour and exhilaration. Their image has a warm star shine. The orchestra’s air-hostesses do an excellent job together with the pilot Björn Strid. His voice supported by Anna Brygård and Åsa Lundman sounds so incredibly good. You get dizzyingly wonderful shivers when all three voices take off into the sky together. The new album has the same high quality as the other two I just mentioned and is perhaps even the best.
If you get the chance, don’t miss to see them live. TNFO has started their new tour, “Moon Over Europe 2025 Tour”. For instance, they will play in Munich (15.02), Aschaffenburg (19.02), Nuremberg (20.02), Karlsruhe (21.02), Berlin (22.02) and Hamburg (24.02).
THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA is an extremely skilled and well-coordinated team, who deliver everything super professionally, but with a relaxed joy of playing. Their positive energy is contagious. The music is easygoing and carefree. They can make the greyest everyday life filled with sunshine. “Give Us The Moon” is a masterpiece with well-produced music, which gives you an enjoyable hour. I get up from my chair and dance around in my living room, waving my arms in the air, as if I were in the middle of an audience. Boarding is complete, fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the journey. We fly to a previous decade and have an incredible party with a disco feeling, filled with happiness. (Anna)
Bewertung:

10 / 10
Anzahl der Tracks: 13
Spielzeit: 58:50 min
Label: Napalm Records
Veröffentlichungstermin: 31.01.2025