Barely a year after the release of "Elysium", their eleventh longplayer, Pet Shop Boys return with "Electric", a much less subdued affair on a brand new label. In fact, it's the first time Neil and Chris have not issued something through Parlophone, the division of EMI that was their home for the last 28 years. Their new label, the appropriately named x2, will be issued through Kobalt.
"Axis" is the first taste of ver Boys new album and it's quite a striking change of pace for them. It's not a pop song. It's an 80s retro dance track. Very nearly an instrumental except for some spooky whispered words from Neil. Big synths, chunky drums, twinkling bells and a great big nod to Giorgio Moroder which is all the rage in reference these days. Thank you, Daft Punk.
Produced by electronic wunderkind, Stuart Price, "Electric" will include the following nine tracks.
1. Axis
2. Bolshy
3. Love Is A Bourgeois Construct
4. Fluorescent
5. Inside A Dream
6. The Last To Die
7. Shouting In The Evening
8. Thursday
9. Vocal
While "Axis" is the first track to be heard from "Electric", rumor has it that "Love Is A Bourgeois Construct" will be the first official single. "Thursday" features British singer/rapper Example and "The Last To Die" is a cover of a Bruce Springsteen song which original appeared on The Boss' album, "Magic", which was released in 2007.
"Electric" will hit the "shops" on July 15.
Loving Axis...more 70's Moroder than 80's Electric Dreams Moroder though...thankfully!! The fact the PSB can switch gears with such ease, in fact seek to, is a testament to their pop virility...Looking forward to dancing this mess around when they hit Florida in September!!
ReplyDeleteIronic in that selling off my old singles by PSB has given me a new appreciation for them! The tasters I've heard from "Electric" seem great. Maybe it's time to buy the post 1993 albums I've not heard? I no longer need every mix, but the albums and B-sides are very sturdy work. Thank goodness for "Alternative" and "Format" as they are in my sights now.
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