If there's ever been a band over the last decade that more than a few people have said to me 'Pete, you really need to listen to this group', it's easily been Sweden's The Night Flight Orchestra. And, up until the release of their seventh album, Give Us the Moon, I've sadly been very lazy on following up on all of these recommendations. So, as I've often said, better late than never...and in this instance, I'm quite glad that I decided to take my maiden voyage into the world of TNFO with Give Us the Moon. This is irresistible stuff, pop-laced hard rock with hooks around every single corner in every single song, the soaring vocals of Björn Strid a complete revelation, considering I've only ever known his more extreme metal side in the music of Soilwork for 20+ years. The line-up for the album is:
Vocals: Björn Strid
Bass: Sharlee D’Angelo
Drums: Jonas Källsbäck
Guitar, Percussions: Sebastian Forslund
Keys: John Lönnmyr
Guitar: Rasmus Ehrnborn
(Backing) Vocals: Anna Brygard
(Backing) Vocals: Ã…sa Lundman
If you look closely there, you'll see Sharlee on bass guitar, he of Arch Enemy and Mercyful Fate fame, so yeah, it's really cool to see metal guys doing this upbeat, poppy rock. "Stratus" is such a can't miss anthem, "Shooting Velvet" has a can't-miss chorus, "Like the Beating of a Heart" contains some cool prog keyboards, AOR-tinged guitars, and, dare I say, disco beats! What an ultra-memorable song, and the chorus sticks in my head long after the album has ended. "Melbourne, May I?!" is another winner, crisp guitar riffs and bright keys adorn what is another supremely catchy rock track, and "Miraculous"...oh boy, talk about an earworm! From the soaring "Paloma", to the rockin' "Cosmic Tide", and the hook-laden AOR gem "Runaway", there are plenty of enjoyable nuggets to be found throughout the album. And, make sure to stay all the way to the end for the near 8-minute, somewhat proggy "Stewardess, Empress, Hot Mess (And The Captain Of Pain)", which features a marvelous vocal from Strid.
I've conversed with a few people who have stated that, while Give Us the Moon is indeed quite good, their back catalog is even stronger, and perhaps more guitar-oriented (keyboards play a big part on this one). So, with that being said, I love this, and can't wait to full digest all that came before it! If you like Cats in Space, Nestor, and AOR/classic rock in general, this one will certainly be for you!
Track Listing
1.
Final Call (Intro) 00:32
2.
Stratus 05:05
3.
Shooting Velvet 03:57
4.
Like The Beating Of A Heart 04:44
5.
Melbourne, May I? 04:50
6.
Miraculous 04:40
7.
Paloma 05:05
8.
Cosmic Tide 04:34
9.
Give Us The Moon 03:45
10.
A Paris Point Of View 03:51
11.
Runaways 05:34
12.
Way To Spend The Night 04:26
13.
Stewardess, Empress, Hot Mess (And The Captain Of Pain) 07:47
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