So "Electric" the new Pet Shop Boys album is out. Make no mistake; it's great. In fact it's the album I've been waiting for since about 1999.
The "Very" album was an obvious high point for Pet Shop Boys fans that not even the eclectic mess of "Bilingual" could dilute. "Nighlife" promised to take us back to the dance floor, but only took us there on crutches with a blind partner. "Release" is best forgotten and whilst things picked up with "Fundamental" and "Yes", our dancing shoes were still collecting dust.
Yes, Neil and Chris are superb songwriters and they have more strings to their bow than a "four-on-the-floor" pound; but albums such as "Release" and "Elysium" just don't cut the mustard for me or the majority of "Pet Heads". We just want to boogie. With lasers.
So Neil and Chirs have given us lasers, they've given us beats, they've given us synth riffs and vocoders in great big heaps in attempt to reclaim their crown as the synth pop kings. Credit should go to production prince Stuart Price who's work is brilliant. If you didn't like "Elysium" or you think they've lost their way, then
rest assured, with this album Neil and Chis have reclaimed their
crowns and glued them on
Also up for a gold star is Mark Farrow as the design of "Electric" is quite brilliant and ties the whole project together. Add in the innovative "Play Button" edition and the £500 "Electric Box" and you have a perfect release for the newly formed x2 records. I urge you to buy it.