Review: Secret Codes and Battleships Darren Hayes PLUS win a signed CD

Once half of multi-platinum selling pop duo Savage Garden, enjoying phenomenal success until their split in the 90s, Darren Hayes has returned with a stealth assault on the UK pop charts with his latest solo album "Secret Codes and Battleships."

In recent years, I admit, Hayes' solo work had become somewhat of a guilty pleasure of mine. An ardent fan in my teens, following the release of Spin in 2002, I purchased subsequent albums with little of the fuss which stirred my teenage-self to leg it into the local record shop to absorb the rush of purchase. Call me old fashioned, or rather, behind the times, but I've still yet to buy anything via itunes - there's nothing like holding a finished article in your hands.

As the first few chords of "Darkness" kicked in on Hayes' second solo album The Tension and The Spark, I recall feeling as if he'd become my secret, with lyrics written just for 'real' fans. By 2007, This Delicate Thing We've Made arrived, as did a nationwide tour, which was both a captivating and daring release but, I'm sorry to say, forgotten within weeks as my youthful hysteria had given way to responsibility.


And here, towards the end of 2011, Hayes has had a re-awakening with "Secret Codes and Battleships", professing the record to be a "return to mainstream pop', collaborating once again with producer of Savage Garden's Affirmation album, Walter Afanasieff along with Carl Falk (Nicole Sherzinger/The Wanted), mixed by Robert Orton (Lady Gaga) and mastered by Bob Ludwig.

A combination of Hayes' unique, over-whelming falsetto and heartfelt lyrics prove hypnotic from the outset with first track "Taken By The Sea". Never one to shy away from revealing the deepest and darkest emotions in his soul, this album is an examination of all aspects in relationships perhaps imagined or genuinely experienced, either way, Hayes belts out each track with sincerity. From the grateful (Taken By The Sea), deceptive (Nearly Love), joyful (God Walking Into The Room), tough-times (Talk Talk Talk), pained (Hurt) and heart-broken (Black Out The Sun) right through to the philosophical (Roses), begging-for-forgiveness (Stupid Mistake) and the genuine craving to taste true happiness (The Siren's Call).

Lyrics such as "It was the sweetest melody, like golden honey dripping from the fingertips of God," in The Siren's Call could make some cringe but many other artists wouldn't dare to pen the dramatically hyperbolic words he allows to fall from his lips, and, most importantly, coming from Hayes, they work.

With backing ranging from electro, string synths to honest-to-goodness guitar and drum beats throughout, this is an album to complement Hayes' voice, but never take over. The balance Savage Garden struck with Affirmation has not been matched but this record comes pretty darn close at times (Don't Give Up, Bloodstained Heart). This impressive slice of 'pop' is guaranteed to lift your mood with Hayes' melodic voice always proving the main draw for the listener.

8/10

Click Liverpool have FIVE SIGNED COPIES of Darren's Black Out The Sun CD single to giveaway.

The competition is now closed.

Full track listing:
Taken by the sea
Don't give up
Nearly Love
Black Out The Sun
Talk talk talk
Bloodstained heart
God Walking Into The Room
Hurt
Roses
Stupid mistake
Cruel Cruel World
The Siren's Call

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