A fun project featuring members of Bauhaus, Sade and PIL. Out 31st October on Cleopatra Records.

When is a debut album not a debut album? When the three individuals involved have racked up huge album sales, years of touring and playing in other bands.

Ashes and Diamonds consist of Daniel Ash (Bauhaus, Love And Rockets, Tones on Tail),
Bruce Smith (Public Image Ltd., The Pop Group), and Paul Spencer Denman (Sade, Sweetback).

Unsurprisingly, given the individuals involved and their pedigree, this is an album that knows how to rock. First track ‘Hollywood’ brings major Alabama 3 vibes. ‘Teenage Robots’ adds more synths to the mix. ‘On a Rocka’ was released as a single, the lyrics are simple and repetitive on this one but are laid over a fun groove.

‘Plastic Fantastic’ has bucket loads of eighties rock charisma about it. ‘Alien Love’ is also very effective. The rest of the album is a bit of a mixed bag. Lyrically it is often overly simplistic, or is lessened by over-familiarity with the tropes discussed (looking at you ‘Champagne Charlie’). Despite that, there is fun to be had here and anyone more familiar with the previous output of the musicians involved is likely to spend an enjoyable half hour or so in this album’s company.