One record at a time: 557. Pet Shop Boys - Disco 5

As the title rather laboriously suggests, "Disco 5" is another instalment in the Pet Shop Boys’ “Disco” series. I nearly wrote “unwanted instalment”, because the series has rather lost its way of late. What began in the eighties as a collection of remixes of the boys’ own material has gradually mutated into compilations that feature remixes they have produced for other artists. I am not especially taken with this approach as I would much rather hear inventive reworkings of Pet Shop Boys tracks than endure some of the material assembled here. Sometimes it doesn't matter how much glitter you roll a turd in, it will always be a turd.

That is my principal issue with “Disco 5”. With a couple of exceptions, I would not normally listen to music by any of the artists featured, and some I actively dislike. I will not name names, as I am not here to upset anyone or pour scorn on other people’s musical tastes. Even so, the boys’ apparent enthusiasm for remixing traditional rock artists who have previously poured scorn on electronic music leaves me scratching my head. 

Other baffling choices are the inclusion of a 1993 version of “Let the Music Play” recorded with Carroll Thompson which has been dragged from the vaults for no discernible reason, while a 2008 collaboration with Sam Taylor-Wood is tossed into the pot with equally little justification. The whole thing is a ramshackle mess with no obvious sense of purpose, beyond giving collectors another object to buy against their better judgement.

Naturally, as a collector, I still felt compelled to buy the limited-edition double orange vinyl set with slipmat, along with the common-or-garden black vinyl. The standard copy arrived from Amazon with a bent sleeve, although even in pristine condition it would hardly be a treasure. In truth, I cannot imagine when I will ever play this record again. Just as well it looks nice, because otherwise it might have no reason to exist at all. 2/5