Client Liaison @ Oxford Art Factory

Leg-warmers and leotards were out in force over the weekend. Bringing decadence back into vogue, Client Liaison stand out in a music scene dominated by nonchalance and effortless cool. The Pretty Lovers tour in support of their self-titled EP has sold out shows across the country, including two nights at Oxford Art Factory.

Harvey Miller and Monte Morgan tread the fine line between satire and seriousness. A genuine love for the shiny sounds and aesthetics of the ’80s blurs this distinction. However, the spectacle isn’t to compensate: their tight synthpop stands on its own. Complete with billowing mullet and sequined back-up dancers, Client Liaison are all about embracing the gimmick. Their total commitment is what makes them irresistibly danceable.

As Miller took the stage in a pink blazer, the duo churned through the likes of ‘Feed The Rhythm’ and ‘Pretty Lovers’. They also unveiled a newer song, ‘Canberra Won’t Be Calling Tonight’. A television was wheeled out for the occasion, screening panning shots of parliament and John Howard’s bushy eyebrows. Delivering the song like diplomats loosening their ties, the performance complemented Morgan and Miller’s taste for corporate fashion and Australian iconography. On that note, the likes of Christine Anu and INXS surfaced in their set, pulling on nostalgic heartstrings.

If you’re not an ’80s revivalist, you soon will be. Such a hyped niche act, Client Liaison claim that “unlike a joke, our humour doesn’t come from a punch line”. At the end of the day, ironic or not, they’re bloody good fun.