Released just one week after his bandmate Björn Yttling's Smile side project,
Hortlax Cobra is John Eriksson from
Peter Bjorn and John doing his side project thing (with help from Pontus Berghe of
Thieves Like Us on drums and some bass) for the collective label the band helps run, Ingrid. Taking inspiration from the cold synth-based sound of '80s
Giorgio Moroder productions and the danceable techno of the '90s but never straying far from the hooky, punchy pop tunes he and his
PB and J bandmates crank out effortlessly, his debut album,
Night Shift, is an understated pleasure. Moving from sunny uptempo dance-pop like the opening "Berlin" through
Kraftwerk-ian mood music ("Repeat Performance"), chilly electro ballads ("Wasteland"), spooky excerpts ("Parking Lot"), slinky late techno that would have fit nicely on the Drive soundtrack ("Kiss of Death"), and a track that sounds like it was co-written with Jan Hammer (the apty titled "Miami Elevator"), the album covers a lot of stylistic ground. There are also a few songs that sound like the brainy, heavy songs Eriksson writes for
PB and J, only played through clunky old synths ("Night Shift," "Viva le Difference," the achingly pretty "Shadows Sunlight"). While these are the songs his fans might find easiest to connect with, the electronic experiments and freeze pop gems are just as worthwhile and just as interesting. Overall,
Night Shift does what a good solo project should do: experiment and try out new things, but give fans of your band something familiar to hold on to. Simply put, anyone who likes what
Peter Bjorn and John do will find plenty to like here. ~ Tim Sendra