Fundamental - Pet Shop Boys Album Review

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Album Review

For their ninth studio album PSB re-unite with Buggles writer/producer Trevor Horn. Never away from immaculate production: Horn's grand influences crawl all over it like a rash.

Twenty one years into a glittering career, (the most successful duo in UK chart history) some commentators elevate it to their best offering for over a decade, which is open to question. Lead-off single I'm With Stupid, their best in years, entered the singles chart at 8 (w/c May 15). Intro track Psychological is a cryptic song (a la Kraftwerk) accompanied by some rather limp music: a poor opening by their outlandish standards. Other dullness ensues on a snail - paced I Made My Excuses, Diane Warren's soppy Numb, (only saved by some glorious 'orchestration'), and Luna Park. God Willing is all of 1 minute 17 seconds; surely a throwaway track of no significance.

Thankfully, I'm With Stupid (a comment on the Blair / Bush relationship from Blair's angle) stops the rot with its catchy chorus and infectious beats. In the same mould we get the hedonistic rush of Sodom and Gomorrah: Tennant's take on the supposed life of debauchery via a cabaret -

Sun, sex, sin, death and destruction / Are you gonna go / To the Sodom and Gomorrah show? / It's got everything you need for your complete entertainment..../ Is a once in a lifetime production.

Minimal is clearly targeted at the club scene, complete with baffling lyrics. Casanova In Hell almost became the most 'interesting' track, but fell flat on its face. A pulsating 'Frankie Goes To Hollywood' styled Integral, full of hopping synths and bashes rounds-off a disappointing album. Fundamentally, it's the blandness that lets it down, and the wearing drone of Tennant's characterless singing.

Perhaps PSB should look over 'the pond' at the Scissor Sisters; on how to make a brilliant pop album.

Elly Roberts