Glasgow’s Nightshift are returning with their third album Homosapien on July 26th 2024 via Chicago label Trouble In Mind Records. Today, we are debuting the video for ‘Crystal Ball’. Watch it below.
‘Crystal Ball’ touches on struggles caused by austerity, with guitarist Chris White (Spinning Coin) swimming through skittery percussion with shifting, glistening motifs, surfing into a brilliant fuzz laden solo as vocalist Eothen Stearn (2 Ply) sounds at once weighed down, and slightly discordant and yet somehow hopeful for something better in the future.
Themes of the record include birth, death and love, and their sound giving nods to Young Marble Giants and Deerhunter.
The band say of the video: “Shot in and around the nearby seaside to Glasgow at a car boot sale, fairground, ice cream shop and mountain landscape, the group ponder on the crystal ball. Tropical weather for Scotland that day.”
The band featuring members of Spinning Coin, Dancer, and Ray Aggs (Shopping, Scared Paws) also makes an appearance on violin on two of the tracks.
Now 5 years deep in existence, Glasgow’s NIGHTSHIFT continue to surf the dazzling plains of their collective reality via an almost elemental take on music and friendship. With their latest offering Homosapien, a noticeable alteration has taken place since the band’s debut LP ‘Zöe’.
Chris White (Spinning Coin) now picks up the guitar instead of drums (his previous role in the band) providing a whole new dimension to their sound. His distinctive playing delivers a countrified energy that is central to the album, leading the song structures into more succinct and colorful places, matching the upbeat and playful nature the band has always drawn strength from, only more so now under his stylish approach. The kinetic drumming of Rob Alexander (Tarantula/Radio Banter) allows for a second new development in the band dynamic. Replacing Chris (his longtime friend from childhood) is no mean feat. Thankfully his drumming is an avalanche of skillful technique with a glorious abandon that swerves it away from the academic and absolutely into a wild and tactile performance that lifts the sound and finalizes a metamorphosis for the group.
Still at the beating heart of proceedings is Eothen Stern (also of 2 Ply). Her incredible vocalisms, keyboard, percussion, and lyrical gifts illuminate the group’s output with an optimistic urgency that is unmatched. On Homosapien she wears her heart on her sleeve in places, but even in the song’s darkest moments, the words create a sense of hope and potential that is synonymous with Eothen as a person. She doesn’t shy away from politics or contemporary love languages and finds humor, earnestness, and critique at every turn. Andrew Robert Doig continues to play bass (Dancer/Robert Sotelo) and provides occasional lead vocals.
Albumpreorder: https://nightshiftgroup.bandcamp.com/album/homosapien
Live Dates:
Wednesday 22nd May – Mono, Glasgow w/En Attendant Ana + US Highball
Friday 21st June – Glad Cafe, Glasgow w/ Lewsberg + Blue Kanues
Saturday 10th August – Album Launch at Mono, Glasgow w/ Susannah Stark + Town Center
Sunday 1st September – Psyche Fest Edinburgh at The Queen’s Hall & Summerhall
Tickets and info: https://nightshift.band/
