The 80s stole my childhood.

That’s right. While everyone else was watching Saturday Disney, I was forced to endure hours of Video Hits, at the stern ruling of older cousins. No Ducktales chit chat for me in the playground. And do you think the other kids wanted to talk about Tears For Fears’ latest music video? Ha.

So it’s with a little bitterness that I step into a night of new wave New Zealander acts (#NWNZA, for those playing on Twitter) at Sydney’s Oxford Art Factory.

The bitterness subsides somewhat as Zowie begins. Pint sized singer Zowie Fluery’s on stage mannerisms morph between a hyperactive Crystal Castles’ Alice Glass, and Aretha Franklin putting her man in his place. She is a thrill to watch; captivating and confident, sustained by a dynamic chemistry between her all-male band mates. The backing tracks are never lazy, with multi-layered vocal effects and bendy distorted synths offering a rougher edge to the 80’s slick. Influences such as Goldfrapp, New Young Pony Club and Peaches do not once overshadow their distinctive sound.

The band somewhat oversells the 80s at times with one track sampling Soft Cell’s "Tainted Love", and yet another new wave song about ice cream – neither of which we really need any more of. But there is no denying the song writing flair of Zowie’s bouncy pop gems, and I look forward to watching them conquer the festival circuit.

Zipping over to the Gallery for Made In Japan offers a pleasant interlude to the Pretty In Pink retrospective next door. While jangly guitars steer towards Bloc Party/Foals territory, melodically, the band brews a warm concoction that echoes Elbow and Doves. Trembling toms, blissful harmonies and shimmering guitars intertwine better than a schoolgirl’s plait, and though it’s university students who fill the packed out Gallery, the band’s musical foreplay visibly stirs memories of teenage heartache. It is what it is. And if making your lead singer the drummer is what it takes to end the persistent indie habit of the tom-bashing front man, we can only hope to see more.

If you live in Australia, you’ve likely seen the Kids Of 88 name thrown around of late, most notably on the 2011 Big Day Out line-up. Apparently we’re a little behind our New Zealand compadres, who have been lapping them up for a while now.

We begin our catch-up lesson as effervescent front man Sam McCarthy’s voice soars like an electro Darren Hayes in his prime. It’s all a little sickly sweet, but I choose to persevere and wait for the band to flip the cards.

At its best, the set offers brief glimpses of Groove Armada and Passion Pit, but spends most of the time covered in cheese. Drunk kiwi girls sing along to profound literary genius, “I’m gonna take you back to my house/I love the feeling when you touch me baby”, and it starts to feel as if I’m trapped inside David Guetta’s version of Willy Wonka.

Tired 1980s themes are rehashed through predictable synth hooks and simplistic melodies, but the band seems convinced that a mystical outro can cover up a poorly-written song. "Rhythm Of Light" offers some redemption, but quickly evolves into a track more fitting as the ‘Final 12’ Idol single. The immature essence of the music hits a Yahtzee as McCarthy closes the set by rapping the chorus of "Hollaback Girl", rubbing salt into an already burning wound.

I am sure there is a place for Kids Of 88 in the playlists of the Austereo network and the iPods of 12 year old girls, but as I leave Oxford Art Factory, it is like I’ve just witnessed Wham regurgitate fairy floss into a primary school disco hall for an hour. And if their record label, Sony, could hop in a Delorean and travel back in time I’m sure they’d jump at the opportunity to push this music to the one set of people who’d love it more than anyone here; kids in ’88.

ZOWIE - www.myspace.com/zowiemusic
MADE IN JAPAN - www.myspace.com/japanmade
KIDS OF 88 - www.myspace.com/kidsof88