Released: 23rd August 2019
Rating: ★★★★
As an indie-pop band it can be hard to stand out, but in their short time on the scene The Night Café have already created a recognisable sound with steady drum beats and melodies so infectious they should come with a doctor’s note. Following two EPs and numerous single releases, they are finally releasing their long-awaited debut album ‘0151’.
Mixing old favourites with new tunes, the record tells the band’s story so far and, as soon as the intro hits, you know you’re in for a wild ride. The band start their debut as they mean to go on: Killer choruses, catchy rhythms, bass lines that will have you moving in no time. In fact, ‘0151’ is moving in the most literal sense of the word. You’re either tapping your foot to the thunderous beats of Carl’s drums or swaying along to the more laidback sounds of ‘Mother’ and ‘I Know (I’m Sure)’.
The record is broken up by four interludes, all experimental in their own right, a smart move on an album that spans 18 tracks in total; the perfect way to refocus attention and allow your mind to drift off for a few seconds before returning to the high energy sounds The Night Café are known for. But ‘0151’ doesn’t only show what the band is capable of sonically; it gives credit to their songwriting. ‘A Message To Myself’, one of their more introspective moments, clearly shows that the band knows how to craft songs that touch even the darkest corners of your jet black heart.
It’s still early days for The Night Café, but with ‘0151’ they have made a debut that has the potential of securing them a spot at the top of the indie scene. It looks like it’s going to be a starry night for these lads from Liverpool.
Laura Freyaldenhoven
