You wouldn’t recognize Pet Shop Boys if you saw them in civilian clothes.
Arriving for an interview at his record label’s offices in West London to discuss his new album, singer Neil Tennant, 69, is dressed smartly, almost elegantly, while his colleague and keyboardist Chris Lowe, 64 years old, appears in a washed hoodie.
“He’s not dressed up,” says Tennant with a smile about his colleague, who – unlike in photos and concerts – is not wearing his sunglasses.
Pet Shop Boys are in the best of spirits – and it’s no wonder. After nearly 40 years in the business, the British duo is as popular as ever. His Dreamworld tour fills large concert halls everywhere. The tour ends in June with five already sold-out concerts at the Royal Opera House, London.
Now, his 15th studio album – by the way – was released.
Pre-released single ‘Loneliness’ opens the album with graceful orchestral sounds before a driving beat kicks in and Tennant’s trademark sweet voice. The slightly melancholic number is an absolute ear worm.
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Together with the music video, you can assume that it is about the loneliness of being gay in an intolerant world. But Pet Shop Boys, whose songs play an important role in Andrew Haigh’s queer drama. All of us foreignersdiscard this idea.
“Maybe it’s about age, too,” says Tennant. “As you get older, your social life can decrease a little bit, almost deliberately. It decreases, in fact, maybe because you don’t have as much energy. It might have something to do with it. But it’s certainly not a gay thing. I think it’s an old thing.”
There are many themes in the album. In “New London Boy”, the singer recalls his beginnings in the British capital when he worked as a reporter for a music magazine.
“Dancing Star”, a disco song with a retro 80’s sound, is dedicated to the legendary Russian dancer Rudolf Nureyev. This is in stark contrast to “Bullet For Narcissus” about a bodyguard who has to protect Donald Trump, even though he despises the former president of the United States.
“The Schlager Hit Parade” is a wonderfully ironic interpretation of musical performances in post-war Germany that sought to project an image of an ideal world. Tennant sings about “Glühwein, wurst and sauerkraut” (mulled wine, sausage and sauerkraut) and a need for harmony, and the Germans’ subliminal desire to leave behind the dark Nazi past.
There is not a weak moment. I think we’re at the peak of our songwriting powers, which is kind of amazing at this stage
Pet Shop Boys have a close relationship with Germany – some of their albums were recorded at Hansa Studios in Berlin. “There was a very old gay bar near us with very old gay men, playing very old gay music.
“He had a huge penis candle, which was kind of obscene, but still cozy (welcoming). This no longer exists in Britain.”
However, by the way it was recorded in London, in the studio of its producer James Ford, who also recently worked with Arctic Monkeys, Depeche Mode and Blur.
“He’s really talented,” says Chris Lowe. “Everything went so fast.”
We by the way, Pet Shop Boys creates an effortless mix of retro sounds, 80s pop, orchestral arrangements and modern EDM beats. In “The Secret Of Happiness” they imitate lounge sounds a la Henry Mancini or Burt Bacharach with minimalist synthesizer rhythms.
There are many earworms in the album. “Melodically, I think it’s incredibly strong,” says Neil Tennant confidently. “And all the songs are interesting. There’s not a weak moment. I think we’re at the peak of our songwriting powers, which is kind of amazing at this stage.”
This is praise for his own work – and even in this case it is warranted. by the way it’s a clever and sophisticated late work – in short, a first class pop album.
