Soul Wave: A Quick Review Of The Debut Album From Night Crickets (Love & Rockets, Bauhaus, Violent Femmes Members)

A super-group born out of the pandemic and lockdown, Night Crickets make for an interesting proposition. Featuring the disparate talents of David J (Love & Rockets, Bauhaus), Victor DeLorenzo (Violent Femmes), and Darwin Meiners, the trio conjure up some memorable moments on their debut as a group, A Free Society.

This Omnivore Recordings release opens with "Black Leather on the Inside", a number that feels like a David J solo one, while the elegant "Candlestick Park" eases into the kind of territory once mapped by Luke Haines and his Auteurs. Elsewhere, "Amanda's Mantra" imagines synth-pop as if performed by John Cale. So much does it sound like Eighties Cale that the VU legend ought to surely give this a listen. Later, "Soul Wave" marries a faintly jazzy mood to the slow-burn meditation from J and crew.

Much of A Free Society works by stirring up a vibe and sticking to it. Little here ventures too far beyond the borders set down by the players, with the title cut thankfully working in the talents of all three band members in a nice way. With a distinctive vocalist like David J involved, it's a given that lots of this will sound like his past material. That said, there's still enough bits and pieces of evocative charm here that take risks for me to say that a long-time fan of either Bauhaus or Violent Femmes will find lots here that pleasantly surprises the ears.

A Free Society by Night Crickets is out tomorrow via Omnivore Recordings.

[Photo: Omnivore Recordings]