“The place you gonna run to now from loneliness? Who you gonna flip to out of loneliness?”
The Pet Store Boys are again, and nonetheless by no means being boring.
The enduring digital duo, made up of Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant, are kicking off the 12 months with a string of extremely thrilling bulletins, starting with the discharge of their model new single, “Loneliness.”
The only is the primary to return from nonetheless, the quintessentially titled fifteenth studio album from the enduring group and follow-up to 2020’s Hotspot, which finds the 2 working with the proficient James Ford (of Gorillaz, Simian Cell Disco, Depeche Mode and Jessie Ware fame, amongst different contributions) for the primary time.
“It was nice to work with James Ford, who we predict has introduced new parts to our music. James has dared to make us a bit extra minimal at occasions and the ultimate result’s a report we’re very pleased with,” the 2 mentioned in an announcement.
The only, described by the duo themselves as “uplifting music with reflective lyrics,” sounds a bit like what I think about a What’s Your Pleasure? collaboration with the boys would possibly sound like, filled with luscious disco strings, joyous horns and a four-to-the-floor pulse. There’s additionally some unbelievable background vocal work occurring right here, recorded at The Church studio in North London.
Regardless of this being their first time working with James Ford, each inch of the report feels immediately and instantly PSB: from the earworm melodies, to the deadpan supply and pensive, melancholy-yet-encouraging lyricism (“Once you gonna not say ‘no’ and make the reply ‘sure’?”), the duo’s newest entry into their colossal discography feels proper at house.
The group is again house in a couple of methods, really: it’s additionally their return to Parlophone Information, the label they launched music below for practically 30 years from 1985 till 2012.
The (age-restricted, sorry) accompanying music video was directed by Alasdair McLellan, who has labored with The xx and St. Etienne, and it’s surprisingly…fairly sizzling and sexy! And grownup! And sure, lonely too!
The visible options a number of attractive fashions in numerous states of coupling and solitude, with a complete lot of underlying queer rigidity and craving – fast glances at urinals and cruising at gyms, crotch grabs, and glory gap references, oh my! The duo even make a short cameo themselves at one level. It’s very “Domino Dancing” in 2024 – and Euphoria, Name Me By Your Title and Saltburn are shaking a bit.
And since PSB nonetheless care about giving us the total expertise – The Method It Used To Be, if you’ll – the only may even be launched as a CD single on February 16, and comes bundled with two B-sides: “Social gathering within the Blitz” and “Via you,” in addition to a radio edit of “Loneliness.”
“We needed this album to be a celebration of the distinctive and various feelings that make us human. From the extra dance-orientated tracks to the uncooked poignancy of the introspective ballads, with their lovely string preparations, every observe tells a narrative and contributes to the general narrative of the album,” the duo mentioned.
The ten-track album will probably be launched on April 26, forward of 5 performances on the Royal Opera Home in London in July later this 12 months. Plus, there’s a a 4-track bonus EP known as Moreover (in fact), with all new recordings of classics: “Coronary heart,” “Being Boring,” “All the time on My Thoughts” and “It’s a Sin.”
From the album paintings to the observe titles, each a part of the marketing campaign is so completely and reliably Pet Store Boys, one of many strongest manufacturers in pop music of all time. 4 many years (!) since their official debut with “West Finish Women” this 12 months, the group sounds as contemporary and razor-sharp as ever.
In PSB we belief.
nonetheless tracklisting
1. LONELINESS
2. FEEL
3. WHY AM I DANCING?
4. NEW LONDON BOY
5. DANCING STAR
6. A NEW BOHEMIA
7. THE SCHLAGER HIT PARADE
8. THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS
9. BULLET FOR NARCISSUS
10. LOVE IS THE LAW
You’ll be able to pre-order nonetheless on vinyl proper right here.
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Photograph credit score: Parlophone Information
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