Exploding onto the American music scene, the Australian duo of Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones, better known as Savage Garden, have thrown the 1980s tribute parties back in the faces of those who scorned the past.
The first single from their eponymously titled debut, "I Want You" (which reached #4 in the duo's homeland of Australia), is a delightful bouncing pop hit reminiscent of the best of the 1980s. Imagine Roxette's Per Gessle (circa "The Look") singing Reunion's "Life Is A Rock But The Radio Rolled Me" (or did Savage Garden hear Tracey Ullman's 1984 cover of this tune?), with a synth-pop combination harkening to Cause and Effect meeting Scritti Politti. And if there was any doubt of the era for which this song was meant, check out the drum machine (most like that in Fine Young Cannibals "She Drives Me Crazy") which fills out the backing music during the track.
But rather than the eighties, we're in 1996, and radio stations have already taken a liking - some might say too much of a liking, based on New York City's potential overkill - to "I Want You". The hopeful part is that these same disc jockeys take a further look at Savage Garden, where several jewels are waiting to be uncovered.
The likely second single, "To The Moon And Back", takes a look at the world through the eyes of a teenage girl who doesn't feel loved by her parents, by the world, and just wants to escape from it all. This touching song, which closes with a piano fadeout and features the string section of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, sounds nothing like "I Want You" - but still has "hit" written all over it.
Periodically, Savage Garden takes the softer route - "Truly Madly Deeply" barely skirts the line between acceptable ballad and cheezy all British boy groups, while "Universe" bridges the gap between Motown and its 80s brethren - but their faster-paced tracks, such as "Carry On Dancing" and "Violet", Savage Garden retain the listeners delight of the past without consistently rehashing old retreads.
Savage Garden's weak point is their periodic unearthing of a part of the past which should remain buried underground. Do we really need the Michael Jackson soundalike on "Break Me Shake Me"? OK, Jacko's taken more than his fair share of criticism while creating music for the masses, but sticking to the synthpop, without the "Bad"-like vocals, would have been a wiser choice.
That decision shouldn't be too much of a surprise, as twentysomething lead singer Darren Hayes openly confesses that "(This album is) unashamedly pop...I'm not scared to say that. When I was growing up, my world was Star Wars, Michael Jackson, Duran Duran; these were the supergods of my youth."
So, synthpop fans, get ready. New Order fans who can't wait for Monaco, Cause & Effect fans who can't wait for the new release (well, in 3 weeks), Duran Duran fans who miss Simon Lebon's old roots, get set. That synthpop thing started in Europe in the 80s is back, and radio is all over it. Go get it!
