Review THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA “Give Us the Moon”

It’s time for another flight with The Night Flight Orchestra as the band takes off again with a new album. “Give Us the Moon” is the seventh album penned by the flight crew, which includes members of bands such as Soilwork and Arch Enemy.

The first ideas for The Night Flight Orchestra were born in 2007. At that time it was Björn Strid and David Andersson (RIP) who explored their common passion for classic rock and AOR. Ideas became reality and the first album “Internal Affairs” was released in 2012.

After a few years with Nuclear Blast, The Night Flight Orchestra signed with Napalm Records. The current album is the first release on the new label and it doesn’t affect the sound of The Night Flight Orchestra.

“Final Call” is an intro and an announcement for the crew to get on board. Following the call, the band begins this new journey through the world of melodic driven rock with “Stratus”. The upbeat song is the perfect opener for the album as it spreads the colorful joy of rock music that finds its roots in the late 70’s and early 80’s.

The Night Flight Orchestra doesn’t change much when it comes to their sound, and that’s a good thing. It is a positive vibe that runs through every song on the album, adding color to the daily winter tristesse. It is like a musical escape to an island of sunshine and warmth.

Next to Rasmus Ehrnbom’s rocking guitar, it’s the keys that give songs like “Like the Beating of a Heart” a danceable character. The very catchy melody is almost pop/rock and yet unfolds a special fascination.

A few more flight instructions are given along the way, such as at the beginning of “Melbourne, May I? It is almost impossible to resist these melodies as it is the captivating expression that fuels each of these tunes. The following “Miraculous” follows a similar approach, while both songs can also shine with excellently executed guitar solos.

“Paloma” is a song that speaks to the heart and shows some chart potential before a mighty drumbeat pulls you out of your romantic dream world. “Runaways” has the feel of a movie soundtrack, while the up-tempo “Way to Spend the Night” has a slightly futuristic edge.

The closing chapter is the longest track on the album, clocking in at nearly eight minutes. The Night Flight Orchestra shows that it’s not only the shorter domestic flights that they can handle. The musical long distance flights are also something they have in their repertoire and passengers / fans will enjoy it.

“Give Us the Moon” is a joyful and highly entertaining album that blossoms immediately. After fastening your seat belt, there will be no moment of boredom or delay. Fans of the band will not be disappointed and considering the number of times they will listen to this album, they may need a frequent flyer program in the future.