This Delicate Thing We’ve Made (2007) – Darren Hayes
What does Smashing Pumpkins, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Darren Hayes have in common? They’ve all released double studio albums. Former front man of global superstar duo Savage Garden’s third effort puts him in the same category. His first album in 3 years, after the insightful but commercially overlooked “The Tension And The Spark”, Mr Hayes comes back into the limelight as a gay and happily married man.
Whilst his debut album “Spin” was the pop masterpiece, “The Tension And The Spark” had a much more somber and depressed tone to it, “This Delicate Thing We’ve Made” is toweringly cinematic and theatrical in sound and largely inspired by his relationship with his father and his experience of coming out.
As brave and ambitious as the project might be, it might prove to be a bit long and tedious but there are definitely some fine gems in here, and more than enough for you to pick and fill into a decent album.
Whilst “Who Would Have Thought”, “Step Into The Light” and “Words” were all lifted as promo singles, 3 official singles were lifted “On The Verge Of Something Beautiful” which is bold, urgent and daring. “Me, Myself and (i)” is an ode to 80s music whilst “Casey” is a song about his brother.
Hayes supported the album with “The Time Machine” tour internationally, and needless to say, he was utterly brilliant, and later did another stint of smaller and intimate venues called “The B-Side Tour” showcasing all the songs that weren’t previously performed on “The Time Machine” tour.
Whilst trying to sit through both discs might be a little too much to digest in one sitting, the set is also ballad heavy but there are definitely some real gems in the form of “Sing To Me”, “I Just Want You To Love Me”, “Words” and “The Only One”.
Tracklisting:
Disc 1:
- A Fear Of Falling Under
- Who Would Have Thought
- Waking The Monster
- How To Build A Time Machine
- Casey
- Step Into The Light
- Sing To Me
- A Conversation With God
- The Sun Is Always Blinding Me
- Listen All You People
- The Only One
- Bombs Up In My Face
- The Great Big Disconnect
Disc 2:
- The Future Holds A Lions Heart
- On The Verge Of Something Wonderful
- Neverland
- Walk Away
- Maybe
- Me Myself and (i)
- Lucky Town
- I Just Want You To Love Me
- Setting Sun
- A Hundred Challenging Things A Boy Could Do
- Words
- The Tuning of Violins
