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THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA
Give Us The Moon
Napalm Records
https://thenightflightorchestra.com

You would never know by listening to THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA that their founders were originally known for their work with Melodic Death Metal acts SOILWORK and ARCH ENEMY.

Some may call THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA Melodic Rock or AOR, but they are so much more than that. The band also draws inspiration from Disco, Prog, and Glam. Give Us The Moon is their seventh studio album and their first for Napalm Records.

After an intro piece that references the band's aeronautics theme, piercing and trippy keyboards lead the charge on "Stratus". Vocalist Bjorn Strid delivers his lyrics with passion and melody.

Keyboardist John Lonnmyr once again delivers his keyboard tones with 70s Glam Rock flair on "Shooting Velvet". The lyrics recall simpler days when we were young and didn't have a care in the world. The chorus has quite the catchy hook.

"Like The Beating Of A Heart" is clearly an homage to Swedish Pop legends ABBA. Sharlee D'Angelo's thumping bass sets the groove, while drummer Jonas Kallsback delivers the dance beat. Strid plays well off of his female backing vocalists Anna Bygard and Asa Lundman.

Driving guitar riffs dominate "Melbourne, May I?", while the keyboards step back into a supporting role. The track evokes a lost TOTO track on steroids. Strid wears his heart on his sleeve on the power ballad "Paloma", as he pleads to his friend that she's in a terrible relationship.

Kallsback really expands his drum work on "Cosmic Tide", switching effortlessly into different rhythms and beats. Guitarists Sebastian Forslund and Rasmussen Ehrnborn deploy some killer licks during the solo section. The album's title track "Give Us The Moon" is a showcase for Bjorn Strid's soulful vocal tones.

"Way To Spend The Night" gives off BLONDIE vibes with its warm keyboards and Disco Punk shuffle. The band caps off the album with a 7+ minute epic "Stewardess, Empress, Hot Mess (And The Captain Of Pain)". The track contains multiple tempo and emotional shifts throughout.

Give Us The Moon by THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA is coming on the heels of two phenomenal back-to-back albums by the group, Aeromantic (2020) and Aeromantic II (2021). To say that is a tough act to follow would be an understatement.

Give Us The Moon is a solid effort with lots of nostalgia from the '70s music scene blasting through. If you are of a certain age, the album's music is reminiscent of a simpler, warmer, safer time in our lives.

Give Us The Moon is full of melody and nostalgia, but I would be lying if I didn't say some of the songs are a bit underwhelming. Fortunately, THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA follows up those tracks with something powerful and enduring.

4.0 Out Of 5.0

Related content:

2024 - Bjorn Strid interview HERE
2022 - SOILWORK - Overgivenheten review HERE
2021 - THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA - Aeromantic II review HERE
2020 - THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA - Aeromantic review HERE
2018 - THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA - Sometimes The World Ain't Enough review HERE