(ABC/Universal)

Back when a certain kind of style was all the rage

Retro? It’s a word that has contradictory connotations - of sleek and geek, chic and cheesy, fashionable and funny. It usually involves things of debatable taste, pushing the limits of what can be done with design, form, colour and materials. Which may explain why retro and ‘80s music seem to fit together so well. Prime suspects for this category include Duran Duran, Adam & The Ants, Dead Or Alive and Soft Cell. And they’re all here in their gaudy glory on this 30-track DVD drawn from the obviously extensive archives of the now venerable ABC video show Rage (which came to our screens during this colourful era). Actually, this collection makes an attempt to avoid some of the more, shall we say, exotic examples of the period – no A Flock Of Seagulls, no Culture Club, no Ultravox, no Haircut 100, for instance. Instead, there are classier names like David Bowie, The Cure, REM, The Style Council, Nick Cave, The Specials, The Triffids, The Church and The Go-Betweens. Oh, and Men At Work, Yazz and Olivia Newton-John (so maybe I’m wrong there). And with each of these names comes a signature tune and a visual depiction that was often cutting-edge for its day and still has the power to pull you in. After all, the ‘80s was the time when video really came into its own, a combination of creativity and technology that kicked everything up several notches. While there’s a fair degree of overlap, the companion 30-track double CD has a re-arranged track order and a slightly different tracklisting, bringing in Billy Idol, Suzanne Vega and The Psychedelic Furs, dropping Sonic Youth, The Jesus And Mary Chain and Do Re Mi. Why? Who knows? But either way, this is a flashback with plenty of flash.

*** ½

BILL HOLDSWORTH

(Monkey Puzzle/Inertia)

This is the type of DVD that is custom-made for fans – TV Is My Parent is success, not just because it includes a great combination of live material, doco footage and videos, but because it captures the true essence of its subject, the worldly Australian vocalist Sia Furler. The main feature is a 2007 concert recorded at the Hiro Ballroom in NYC, an intimate performance that lives up to the child-drawn artwork of Sia’s latest album Some People Have Real Problems. Buttons opens the performance, with Sia and band in fluorescent kid drawing outfits, prompting the frontwoman to comment "Hope you haven’t taken mushrooms tonight!" Back to normal outfits for the rest of the set, but a goofiness is present throughout, as Sia cracks jokes betweens songs, while still being able to convincingly pull off tortured torch songs, personalised soul/funk and cooing electro-lullabies. The back catalogue of former collaborators Zero 7 is dipped into, as is …Real Problems’ 2004 predecessor Colour The Small One, with signature tune Breathe Me an inevitable crowd favourite. The extras are just as good. On the face of it, behind-the-scenes tour doc Where The Magic Happens is stock standard stuff – Sia signing autographs, enjoying down-time with her amiable, blokey band etc. But it’s Sia’s charisma and charming personality that makes you a willing participant in the journey – she just seems like a fun person to be around. Also, the innovative videos for Buttons, Day Too Soon, The Girl You Lost and Soon We’ll Be Found are present, showing Sia as a considerably edgier prospect than her oft-compared contemporary Dido. Facial distortions, shadow puppetry and multiple costume changes present a visual portfolio of an artist nearer the envelope-pushing of Björk than the coffee table glossiness of Norah Jones.

****

MATT THROWER

(Shout Factory/Stomp)

Genre-hopping hitmaker takes another first

Paul Simon’s musical journey began in 1957 when he released a single with Art Garfunkel under the name of Tom & Jerry. Fortunately, that name got dropped and, first as the key writer in the folk duo Simon & Garfunkel, then as a solo artist, Paul Simon has in his own way been a both an appealing hitmaker and a pioneer. In recognition of that impressive career, he became the first person to be awarded The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize For Popular Song. To mark the occasion, a gala event was held in the American capital of Washington in May 2007, bringing together a host of performers to sing Simon’s praises – literally. An array of acts participated in reliving some of his most significant songs. So you have Lyle Lovett with 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover, Jamaica’s Stephen Marley with Mother And Child Reunion, James Taylor with Still Crazy After All These Years, Marc Anthony with El Condor Pasa and, um, The Muppets with The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy). Apart from some historic videos scattered through the performances (singing Under African Skies with Miriam Makeba in a special Graceland concert in Zimbabwe in 1987, joining George Harrison for Homeward Bound on Saturday Night Live in 1976, and so on). Simon stays on the sidelines until towards the end. And, frankly, though what precedes it is indeed a celebration, it’s here the whole thing lifts off. Teaming up with Art Garfunkel (Bridge Over Troubled Water), Ladysmith Black Mambazo (Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes) and Stevie Wonder (Loves Me Like A Rock), Simon actually seems a little taken aback by all the attention, but revels in it anyway – as he should.

(Letterbox/Madman)

Rock N Roll Nerd documents the rise to fame of comedian/musician Tim Minchin, from Melbourne nobody to star of the UK stage. The filmmakers capture him on the cusp of his success, which is a handy piece of timing. A decent amount of his performances, which are routinely excellent, are included within the documentary and are made even more enjoyable by getting to know him up close. Meeting him before he has his hair and teeth straightened, seeing him out of the make-up and costume just being ordinary with his wife and friends at the point where he’s still the struggling underdog, Minchin earns your sympathy with ease. Part of that is how self-deprecating and insecure he is – one of those comedians who proves the tears-of-a-clown truism that deep down they’re an unhappy, doubt-riddled lot. At first he’s bothered by the possibility he’ll fail and his wife, who pays all the bills, will be dragged down with him and his dream as they crash and burn. Later he’s just as upset by the ludicrous amount of money he gets paid to goof off on stage, as well as by his occasional bad reviews. Which is pleasing. It’s always nice to know that if you give someone one star, motherfucker’s gonna cry – but Rock N Roll Nerd hits all the right funny and heart-warming notes to make you a fan.

****

JODY MACGREGOR