I think it is safe to say that the 2017 album Amber Galactic was the breakthrough record for THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA. One year later the following Sometimes The World Ain't Enough was not even half as great, rather boring and mediocre. Now, with the fifth record in 12 years (yes, the guys are working hard) the Swedes return with Aeromantic, stronger than ever before and ready for the big strike. Beautiful wordplay by the way. On this new album THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA unite and focus on all strengths and musicianship and do what they do best: 80s AOR Pop Rock with all the trimmings this genre offers. This time on the whole, without fillings.
Aeromantic almost completely races up-tempo and goes all out right from the beginning. Only the Elton John touched semi-ballad Golden Swansdown reduces pace a little.
All other tracks powerfully kick ass, are compact and crispy, highly dynamic, full of verve and downright electrifying. Additionally, THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA shines with an overwhelming disco attitude, an extra cool nonchalance, a summerlike flair and all the kitsch this genre has to offer: sickly sweet keyboard lines, spacy sounds, croon singing, big melodies and refrains, guitar solos and heart-wrenching violins, drama and disco hymns such as Transmission, the title track and Dead Of Winter. Even Abba, Giorgio Moroder and Donna Summer would turn pale. Aeromantic is like a Mecca for the John Travoltas and Kevin Bacons out there that would raise the roof of every dance floor. This record is pure joy.
If one needs to nag about anything then perhaps that the air hostesses Anna Brygård and Anna-Mia Bonde could have taken over more vocals, and that the singing of Björn Strid will probably not work like that at live performances. Nonetheless, Aeromantic is for sure an awesome record!