Astronaut

Believe it or not, there really are some things that we should be grateful for that Duran Duran came up with all those years ago. We?re not talking bad haircuts (though there?s limitless mileage to be had there), or obvious cases of fashion faux-pas (the 80?s was littered with them), but the wonderfully disposable pop tracks of vintage keyboard calibre that still sound huge. And actually make you thankful that you didn?t dispose of them after all. Then there were the pop videos. Very much in their infancy when the Birmingham five started out on ?Planet Earth? in 1981, but by ?Rio? or ?Save A Prayer? the following year, a style and panache had evolved ? which is still emulated by many today.

But any gooey-eyed reverence for years gone by stands for nothing if this album sounds rubbish. It doesn?t by the way, but don?t expect any revelations either. Take the ?Sunrise? first single for example (with the annoying brackets too). Promising start, rousing verses, catchy style, but irritating chorus. And any track that preaches about reaching for the sun / stars / moon (delete as applicable), are as lyrically trite as asking you to wave your hands in the air (like you just don?t care). However let?s be fair. Three Taylors, one Rhodes and a Le Bon were never about pushing the boundaries of lyrical insight. It was always about pop, and they did that really well.

However those pop goalposts have never stopped shifting in the 25 years since Duran Duran formed. Yet the essence of that past success is still present now. Plus to their credit, they have not tried to re-invent themselves into unrecognition. So let?s skip the dull ?Want You More? and head into ?What Happens Tomorrow?. At last Simon Le Bon becomes interesting again. Sweeping melodies with real atmosphere. More lyrical nonsense on the title track, but who cares, as it sounds great.

Individuality, fun and pouting chicks on ?Bedroom Toys?. Laid back, almost soulful indeed, and a fine wheeze. ?Taste The Summer? could be them re-working ?Club Tropicana? (which for younger readers was a prehistoric Wham track not a fruit juice). Lightweight splendid fun ? nothing wrong with that at all. Pity it didn?t come out 6 months ago actually.

The further into the album, the more you come round to their way of thinking. Or maybe the songs just get better. Sparse tinkling synths with indelible hooks on ?Finest Hour?. Strong yet dreamy. ?Chains? even better, Le Bon?s voice again cutting the mustard. Although the collective chemistry of the Durans made the group special, it was those vocals that made it recognisable. And memorable it is again. By the last two subdued tracks ? which are undoubtedly the most captivating ? the magic has re-emerged.

Fans of Busted, Westlife or a myriad other stenciled-in boy bands might be a bit confused as to the attraction of Duran Duran, but the appeal is still there. Yes the lure of this album will be from those who suffered as 80?s fashion victims themselves, and maybe it?s reassuring that some leopard-skin clad singers don?t change their spots too radically.

It?s nearly 20 years since this newly reformed team worked together, and some members continue to show it. They still wear dark glasses at night, have a penchant for embarrassing rock star hairstyles, and make the occasionally dodgy tune. But this time they are happy in their post new-romantic maturity, and quite content to make cheesy pop tunes again. And it?s actually rather good to have them back.

Neil Chase
Music Editor