They call themselves the Doom Patrol, but David Eden and Theo Johnson have more than doom and gloom to offer on their debut CD, "Angel".
Minor chords and somber moods prevail, although rays of light poke through a few tunes, including the relatively upbeat title track. Another standout, "Wicked", is a gothic love song (sample sentiment: "The pleasure hits you like a thousand heartbeats...") guaranteed to seduce vampires and other creatures of the night.
Fans of Depeche Mode will find the Doom Patrol's artful melancholia right up their alley.
File "Angel" under "techno/goth/whatever," Eden says. "Cleveland contemporary might be a better description," he suggests, hastening to add that he means that with a hint of sarcasm.
The material has a "dark edge" that reflects the industrial landscape of the duo's hometown, says Eden, who plays keyboards, guitar, and bass. He composes the music, sharing lyric writing and singing duties with his partner.
"I add the charisma," says Johnson, whose deep voice (eat your heart out, Barry White) is an integral element of the Doom Patrol's sound.
The pair previously played together in Mr. Harker's Sideshow. After that band broke up three years ago, Eden and Johnson opted to carry on as a twosome. They recorded "Angel" at Eden's home studio in Cleveland.
With a name like the Doom Patrol, it seems only fitting that the duo should release its debut amid the hoopla of Halloween. The timing just worked out that way, Eden insists.
"It's nothing but a fortuitous coincidence," he says. "We wouldn't be hokey enough to plan anything in that manner."
Hokey or not, the Doom Patrol does plan to host a CD release party for "Angel" at 10 p.m. tomorrow at Tyr, 12112 Madison Ave, Lakewood. Cover: $3.
-John Soeder
