Miguel Bose and Ana Torroja Vocalize a Love of ‘80s Nostalgia

Spain is not exactly known for an abundance of pop superstars. But in the ‘80s, husky singer Miguel Bose and disco-pop outfit Mecano gave the European nation its share of musical notoriety.

Both Bose and Mecano borrowed their sound from the most palatable elements of music coming out of England and the United States, and because their style was exotic and easy on the ears, they were quickly embraced by audiences all over Latin America.

Before a rapturous, nostalgia-minded audience Saturday at the Greek Theatre, Bose and ex-Mecano singer Ana Torroja presented “Girados,” the show that finds them joining forces for the first time.

Of the two, Bose is the one who, stylistically at least, appears to be stuck in the decade when Duran Duran reigned supreme. Forget about the Castilian lyrics for a moment, and hits such as “Amante Bandido” and “Nena” will make you think of Sting, Depeche Mode and Human League all rolled into one. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Torroja, on the other hand, has transcended her work with Mecano by teaming up with rock en espan~ol producer Andres Levin. Her latest album, “Pasajes de un Sueno,” is a lavish slice of aural candy, marked by sophisticated melodies and delicious touches of electronica.

Unfortunately, Torroja presented only two songs from “Pasajes.” “Ya No Te Quiero,” with its smoky trumpet solo, and “Dulce Pesadilla,” done as a duet with Bose, made you pine for more of the new stuff. But the Spanish diva was aware that her fans preferred the old Mecano material, and she dutifully obliged them with peppy versions of “Un Ano Mas” and the new-wave inflected “Barco a Venus.”

Because of the lukewarm sales of “Pasajes,” Torroja says she has been advised to switch gears on her next outing. Hopefully, she will ignore that conservative thinking and venture even further into the rewarding path of artistic exploration.