Self-described as “international in flavour and cosmopolitan in style,” yet firmly grounded in late 1980s and early 1990s corporate Australiana, Client Liaison’s mission statement of delivering a visual and aural experience funded by the company card and followed by a long lunch is finally realised in the release of their debut self-titled EP.
With production slicker than the 1989 Exxon oil spill, Client Liaison’s synergy of dance-pop nostalgia, corporate symbolism and organisation delivers a soundtrack to the chasing of dreams in a world of economic downturn and lumbering corporate pressure. The thematic focus of the band’s aesthetic is just as pertinent as the era it is celebrating; both the late 1980s and the early 2010s have experienced global economic struggle in a time where corporate excess and expansion is at an all-time high. This surprisingly organic and apt juxtaposition connects these two eras in a way that is rarely approached in a musical context, uniting the concepts that Client Liaison view just as relevant in 2014.
With previous singles End of the Earth and Feeling connecting the EP with four brand new tracks, the release is a product of slick professionalism, focus, and an intensely accurate and conscious understanding of the style they have embraced. Vocalist Monte Morgan channels equal parts Prince and Debbie Gibson, with the utmost conviction and dedication to delivering his message. Producer and instrumentalist Harvey Miller provides synth-driven backdrop to the band’s atmosphere of confidence and determination.
The Client Liaison EP marks a group that is fearless in the face of what contemporary media may deem to be relevant or cool, yet provides a reflection and celebration of the crossover between pop culture and the corporate world of Australia.
BY JOE HANSEN
Best Track: Feeling
If You Like These, You’ll Like This: ANSETT AUSTRALIA, DINERS CLUB, DAIMARU
In A Word: Professionalism
