Nattskiftet – Stämplar In (Album – Progress Productions)
Genre/Influences: EBM.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: Nattskiftet is a Swedish formation set up in 2015. The band consists of Anna Johnning, Tobias Eliasson, Christer Björndahl and Lars Björndahl (the two last members are also involved with the Electro-Pop/Italo-Disco project Disco Digitale). Nattskiftet is the Swedish word for ‘Night Shift’ while their debut album means ‘Punching In’. They previously released an EP “Aceton” in 2015 and now strikes back with their debut album.
Content: Natskiftet stands for pure old-school EBM sung in Swedish. They sound a bit like the Swedish version of DAF, but it would be too easy defining them as new DAF clones. The music is carried by strong bass lines, hopping sequences and sometimes achieved with a somewhat Pop-driven touch/tune on top. Anna Johnning is singing in a rather sterile, but charismatic way while the male vocals inject some extra power to the work.
+ + + : Nattskiftet doesn’t innovate, but they have a nose to compose great retro-styled EBM. I noticed great and intelligent sound treatments and analogue effects. The choruses are often elevating and I like the mix of male- and female vocals. “Aceton” and “Bara Jobb” are familiar tracks for those who know the band, and are some of the album’s best cuts. But I also have to mention “Folkets Sång”, which could be the perfect song to be released as single. But there are more great songs like “Nattskift”, “Ingeting”, “Adrenalin”, “Vid Dagens Slut” and “Götaverken”. The last mentioned track features a cool, icy lead. Notice by the way Krischan Wesenberg did the mixing of this work. Nattskiftet has been presented as one of the best old-school EBM bands and I can only, but agree. I can’t stop playing several songs of this album, the Swedish language adding a pretty cool- and personal touch to their work.
– – – : No real minus points, the tracklist being a succession of great songs and non-stop energy.
Conclusion: “Stämplar In” took me by surprise; what a great and accomplished EBM work from a band, which will for sure become a new sensation!
Best songs: “Folkets Sång”, “Bara Jobb – Album Version”, “Aceton – Album Version”, “Vid Dagens Slut”, “Götaverken”.
Rate: (9).
Artist: www.facebook.com/nattskiftetmusik
Label: www.progress-productions.com / www.facebook.com/progresspro
About Nattskiftet
Nattskiftet is an EBM quartet from Gothenburg, Sweden, formed in 2015 by Anna Johnning, Tobias Eliasson, Christer Björndahl and Lars Björndahl, who sing in Swedish. According to Discogs the band played its first concert at the Electronic Summer festival in Gothenburg in 2015 and signed to Progress Productions after that show. The debut single “Aceton” appeared as a download in 2015, followed by the six-track CD EP of the same name on 19 February 2016, which added “Bara Jobb” and “Arendal” plus remixes by Spetsnaz, Xenturion Prime and a “Propanon Mix”; Hans Olsson Brookes mastered it. The band also appeared on the Progress Productions samplers of 2016, 2019 and 2020 and played Bodyfest and the Progress Festival, according to its Bandcamp biography.
The debut album “Stämplar In” was released by Progress Productions on 14 May 2021 as a download and on CD. The twelve tracks are “Aceton (Album Version)”, “Folkets Sång”, “Ingenting”, “Gnissel Och Brus”, “Nattskift”, “Bara Jobb (Album Version)”, “Adrenalin”, “Skrot”, “Frukten Av Ditt Arbete”, “Sirener”, “Vid Dagens Slut” and “Götaverken”. Krischan Wesenberg of Rotersand mixed and co-produced the album, Hans Olsson Brookes mastered it, Torny Gottberg handled A&R, Vio Szabo made the layout and Marcus Johansson took the photographs. Discogs lists a limited edition of the first 200 copies with a hand-numbered card and a signed bonus CDr of remixes by Alvar, Wesenberg, Lucifer’s Aid, Digidroid and Elliot Berlin.
The band contributed to the Progress Productions 20th anniversary compilation in 2024. “Stämplar In” is the band’s only Side-Line review to date.
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I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
