‘I got the solution to your satisfaction/ it’s the electric love contraption…’
Speaking his smooth-tongued way through the ten tracks on Electric Love, to a background of drum machine, synthesiser and electric piano, Donny Benét recreates the sound of a time that most of us are sadly too young and too ‘not-European’ to have experienced.
There’s nothing that quite says ’80s sleek (sleaze?) like a saxophone interlude, as featured most prominently by Benét’s brother, Dan, on “All 4 You”. Then there’s “Julia”, an ode to a special lady (Julia Gillard’s re-election campaign jingle? Just putting it out there – it certainly couldn’t hurt her chances). Other songs, like “Treat Yourself” and “Gimme Your Heat”, may inspire the more energetic among us to take up aerobics.
There’s nothing particularly overwhelming, extraordinary or surprising here; this is not an album that asks to be thought about at all deeply. Instead, it calls for you to get up and get out on the town, espresso in hand and with slacks freshly pressed.
‘I’m wearing my Sunday best/to give me the chance of success...’
There’s a man about town and he’s looking for love. Fathers, don’t lock up your daughters – with Benét you know they’ll be treated right.
– Serrin Prior
