There's an apocryphal tale that Neil Tennant read a critical review of the album "Elysium" on iTunes and resolved to make the next Pet Shop Boys record "more banging with lasers". Whilst this story isn't entirely true, there is no doubt that 2013's "Electric" is squarely aimed at the dance-floor and is the polar opposite to its predecessor.
On the day the standard LP was released a special edition "Electric Box" was announced that would contain five 12" singles in a florescent acrylic box and was limited to 350 copies. This set cost a ridiculous £500 and would be released on 7th October 2013. However, much like the "Very" box set, the finished product was much delayed and didn't turn up until the middle of December. As you might imagine, I will be playing one of the two standard double vinyl sets I own for this review and keeping the box set out of harm's way.
I was quite gushing about this album when it was released as it seemed to banish the doldrums and allowed the Pet Shop Boys to reclaim their crown as the kings of dance driven synth-pop. Yet, my enthusiasm is somewhat tempered today as I feel "Electric" set the boys off on a road that ended in something of a cul-de-sac.
Things start promisingly enough with the track "Axis" that was used as a teaser single. Aside from some occasional hoarse vocals repeating the phrase "Turn it on" this is an instrumental piece that doesn't conform to a conventional pop song template. At first, the lack of structure in these songs worried me as I thought it might detract from the credibility of the album. However, I reconciled this with the thought that this isn't a traditional pop album and nobody questions the structure of "Blue Monday", "Numbers" or "Moments in Love".
The single "Love Is A Bourgeois Construct" is a little more traditional in approach but I am not a fan of the Henry Purcell motif or the monotonous verses. Another single "Thursday" seemed quite contemporary and even features a rap by Example. Stuart Price is a good producer and I enjoyed his work as Les Rythmes Digitales long before he became associated with the boys, but sometimes it sounds like he is being held back a little. "Vocal" is the final track on the album as is one of my favourite songs by the Pet Shop Boys. Yet, when I hear it I have a nagging feeling that there is something missing. Would it have been better with a TB-303 style riff and some TR-909 hit hats? It certainly would have had a sound closer to that of the rave scene it references and I would have liked that.
I think if you had asked me to score this album back in 2013, I would have given it full marks. Today I am forced to consider the fact that it sounds a little dated and some of the tracks haven't proved to have enduring appeal. I've disappointed myself here. 3.5/5 Happy New Year.
