Light And Shade: A Brief Review Of The Reissue Of The Second Solo Album From David J (Bauhaus, Love And Rockets, The Jazz Butcher)

In 1985, David J had already been in Bauhaus, The Jazz Butcher, and Love And Rockets. Still, the urge was there to record solo material and, luckily, he put out the superb Crocodile Tears And The Velvet Cosh that year on Glass Records. Now, thankfully, the folks at Glass Modern are bringing that album back out.

Crocodile Tears And The Velvet Cosh is a largely subdued release, and the style suits David J spectacularly. The title cut feels like something off of Seventh Dream Of Teenage Heaven, even as the lilting "Too Clever By Half" rides a nice jangle-pop wave forward. Elsewhere, the simple "Light and Shade" sees David J pursue a sort of minimalist style that vaguely echoes Bowie's classic Berlin albums, while the more spacious "Stop This City" finds the Bauhaus member working electro-pop textures into the material. Still, lots of Crocodile Tears And The Velvet Cosh is light, faint-chamber pop of the kind that recalls Marc Bolan as much as Bauhaus.

With appearances from members of The Jazz Butcher such as Max Eider, Crocodile Tears And The Velvet Cosh stands as a vital release from the early days of U.K. alt-rock, and further proof of just what a fantastic musician and vocalist David J was. That he continues to perform is something to be thankful for.

More details on David J via his official Facebook page, or official website. Crocodile Tears And The Velvet Cosh is out now via Glass Modern.