Funny really, how retro works. Styles and fashions seem to recycle themselves. New generations copy the innovations and statements of those previous and claim them as their own. Some fashions, like mini-skirts, we welcome back. Others, like 80s day-glo t-shirts, we don't. The style of Darren Hayman's new album however, oozes a refreshing seventies sound. It's like Ziggy-Stardust just had kids.
In fact David Bowie and Darren Hayman are two peas in an iPod. From an album dubbed as being an introduction into electro-folk music, it has the same kind of fitful sub-conscious lyrical haze as the songs from the original seventies revolutionary.
As you'd probably guessed the album is based around the goings-on in a secondary modern school, for many listeners, furthering the melodic trip back in time. Tracks tell stories about Art & Design teachers, escapades in shoplifting, star pupils and such like.
At first the prospect of electro-folk seems kind of daunting. The cover art consists of an oil-painting of a sheep dog. It led me to believe the album was going to be the kind of folk that consists of beard-stroking, woolly jumpers, pipes and slippers. One should never judge a book by its cover though, or an album by it’s sleeve design.
The double struts of electric-guitar power chords, overlaying a rolling melody played on a Banjo, work together fantastically. Rochelle is such a track. Another example of the delightful way Hayman fuses electric and acoustic overtures is in the song Elizabeth Duke. A violin follows the vocal melody, whilst a harp, electric piano and a half-dozen other electronically produced sounds combine to create a song which flows so easily into a summer's day driving song.
Let's Go Stealing is probably my favourite track on the album. I cannot help but smile when playing it. It's one of those songs you ought to play before going to work because it'll put you in a good mood for the rest of the day.
Hayman's band Hefner, with whom his last work was produced, was a favourite of the the late, great John Peel. Like typical Peel tender, The Secondary Modern isn't necessarily an album that will have you humming the tunes straight away. Given a few revolutions in the CD player however, and it easily grows on the listener. In no time you'll find yourself singing "Let's go stealing". Probably best not to wander round the supermarket singing it though.
Darren Hayman & The Secondary Modern is available through Track & Field from November 5.
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