September 22, 1998

Brighton Beach Deck

Despite only being 12 when they ended, the '80s have had a frighteningly profound effect on Jacques...

Jacques Lu Cont, sweat dripping from his neon-red hair, rips his shiny blue top off. Brighton screams. But it's not an oiled six-pack they're aghast at, rather it's his white fishnet T-shirt with red tassels that shocks, a garment not seen since Michael Jackson's 'Bad' video circa 1987. And with good reason.

It's no real surprise, though, given that the rest of Jacques' attire consists of white pumps, a chunky digital watch and, in perhaps the greatest sartorial faux pas of recent times, a pair of blue stone-washed jeans. New ones, with leather-topped back pockets. Not very chi-chi, but very LRD.

For despite being only 12 when they officially ended, the '80s have had a frighteningly profound affect on Jacques: the horrific garb is merely a logical extension of Les Rythmes Digitales' pristine and highly-polished funk-fuelled disco pop. It's 1983's finest moments freeze-dried and repackaged for beginners, but scratch the surface and there's nothing there, right?

Wrong. LRD may be more pop than Billie, but much of the music is informed by such synth pioneers as Kraftwerk and Georgio Moroder, while 'Disco To Disco' blends the crisp house of Daft Punk with Pet Shop Boys' overt use of melody. Right now, LRD are both novel and a novelty, a fact Jacques seems only too aware of as he teases the front rows with his deft, Level 42 bass thwacking during 'Jacques Your Body'.

Jacques, too, is a natural showman. Either that or he's milking the big beat-weary crowd's adoration now that his star is rapidly ascending. Whether it sets as quickly matters not though, because, strange as it may seem, it's actually impossible to dislike the way he lip-syncs to his songs, or strikes ludicrous poses, or makes his guitar 'talk' on the marvellous 'Music Makes You Lose Control'.

And that's good old-fashioned entertainment. But not, sadly, good old fashion.

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