And now for the question of the week, have you ever heard of a band called Cafe Noire? I read a review of them in an underground magazine and I tried to order the tape, but because of great reviews by every Christian underground magazine that could get their hands on a copy of the tape, Cafe Noire sold out nearly every copy. Now I really haven't written on any underground tapes but when one comes along that is so great I can't pass up the opportunity. So finally as the story goes, they sent me the first demo and a copy of their new tape "When I Awaken," which is fresh and as new as any tape out. Even more exciting, they gave me a call and I grew to feel the attitude of the albums even more.
The music is definitely Hot! Very, very hard to classify but something like early Cure albums to Joy Division with some killer enchanting vocals that sound like Sinead O'Connor. The word for the album is passion. Now Cafe Noire has 2 tapes. "Cafe Noire" and their new release, "When I Awaken." They are both very different but very similar, incredibly intense with feeling. It's pretty mellow but really emotional. Dreamy and romantic with feeling and tears; I love it.
The songs are poetic, not really evangelistic or bleeding with Christian overtones but more real life oriented. "Broken Arrows" is a deeply touching track, "Dreams of broken arrows/ Falling from the sky/ These dreams are all my sorrows/ Bleeding from my eyes/ Images of restless shadows/ Dance across the wall/ These images I must follow/ Through dark and scary halls/ Just like my spirit/ Searching for my soul/ I've been away for a long time now/ It feels good to be home".
Okay, I caught them at the end of a practice and they told me that they are trying to find a label to sign with. Basically they said the band's future is in God's hands and they will go where He leads. They are the first to play such a vague and romantic, dreamy type of sound in the Christian realm, so I see a big future for them.
You can order the tapes by sending a check payable to Mike Brown, to Mike Brown, 1047 N. Laurel, Ontario, CA, 91762. The first tape is $4 and the new one is $5.50, add $1 for S&H and you won't regret it.