In the Pop Music industry,
longevity is a rare thing indeed. Most big-selling acts are in the spotlight
for two to five years before sliding off the radar and fading into the shadows.
Some acts split up and are never heard from again. Others lose a few members
and spend the rest of their careers playing county fairs. And then you have and
act like Pet Shop Boys, a British
duo that formed 39 years ago and have been crafting hit records since 1985. And
thankfully, they show no signs of abandoning the music world anytime soon. And
for that, we should all be grateful…
Neil Tennant (vocals) and Chris
Lowe (keyboards) were initially lumped in with the Synthpop duo brigade (Soft Cell, Yazoo, Erasure, Naked Eyes, etc.)
but they have outlasted and outperformed them all. From early chart hits like “West
End Girls,” “It’s A Sin,” “What Have I Done To Deserve This” (with Dusty Springfield), and “Always On My
Mind” to club-shaking stormers like “New York City Boy,” “Love Etc.,” “The Pop
Kids,” and “Winner,” Pet Shop Boys have helped define Electronic Music, flirting
with House, Techno, Dance, Synth, Pop, and a myriad of other styles. Neil and
Chris write songs that are designed to make your feet move and your heart soar.
With lyrics that range from smarmy and sarcastic to remarkably honest and
forthright, Pet Shop Boys are one of the most unique bands to emerge from the
UK in the last four decades.
The duo’s 2020 album HOTSPOT
is a cornucopia of Electropop stylings. From Disco-drenched floor-fillers to catchy
Pop, this is an album that continues their move towards a club-oriented sound.
While there are still plenty of melodic hooks to be found on a PSB album, their
groove is more inspired by the nightlife than ever before. From the
Disco-influenced “Dreamland” (featuring Years
& Years) and “Monkey Business” to the House groove of “Happy People”, HOTSPOT
is another epic collection of smart Electronic Pop from the guys. However, not
everything here is necessarily danceable – they show their pensive/sensitive
side on tracks like “You Are The One,” “Only The Dark,” “Hoping For A Miracle,”
and “Burning The Heather.” “I Don’t Wanna” is an instantly catchy Pop tune that
resembles the PSB of old. So, if you are looking for a place to unwind and get
your groove on, I know the perfect HOTSPOT…
PET SHOP BOYS
HOTSPOT
1.24.20