Debut album 'ZOE' from Glaswegian five-piece Nightshift out 26th February by Trouble in Mind Records.
The group formed in 2019 through the plethora of the Glasgow indie scene, a fertile ground for creativity and the many forms of indie music from DIY to punk with a sprinkle of experimentation.
The band consists of members from former bands Spinning Coin, 2 Ply and Robert Sotelo. They comprise of co-founders David Campbell (guitar) and Andrew Doig (bass), Eothen Stearn (keyboards/vocals) and Chris White (drums) joined to become an early Sonic Youth-esque group and the sound evolved once guitarist/vocalist Georgia Harris joined whilst the band was writing the album that would become ZOE.
Following hot on the footsteps of Black Country, New Road's debut album the sound of the best music in recent times is one of strength in numbers. Gone are the days of four member band (singer, guitar, bass, drums) and now it is a multitude of mult-instrumentalists, vocal duties shared amongst the group, the sound of community and coming together to form as one.
The group began recording the album in early 2020 and then the sound of pubs, restaurants and recording studios shutting their doors was heard across the nation and the world as the grip of Covid-19 took hold. Nightshift though took the lockdown in their stride, recording elements remotely and sharing the finds together. This meant the compositions were pieced together and producing an improvised feel to proceedings, one member adding to an idea and passing it on.
The album has a wealth of influences ranging from Brian Eno's seminal Oblique Strategies to the role of literature and philosophy, especially Rosi Bradiotti's 'The Posthuman'; this is a work that is willing to ask the key questions about self-worth, reflection and growth in the individual; whilst being aware of the surroundings that same individual is in with the importance of self, friendship and hope being paramount in this self-awareness.
While the argument can be made that all art is political, primary lyricist Stearn views the album as 'a re-claiming of public property, and a striving for social and environmental justice', the power of passing on the work and adding the next layer was a response to the loneliness an imposed lockdown may have on each person.
There is a majesty and mystery to the album from opening track 'Piece Together' and single 'Make Kin', yet the album builds up the crescendo and wonder that is 'Power Cut' the seven minute track that is full of experimentation and expression in equal measure.
This is truly a great album full of little nuggets of joy and pleasure, a miracle of community and togetherness.
Nightshift will be streaming a live concert on 27th February, the day after the album release, hosted by UK promoter, Upset the Rhythm, tickets available here.
ZOE is out from Trouble in Mind on 26th February in all formats.
