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I’ll give it to you straight. To paraphrase a previous LP by the gents, the first album from the Pet Shop Boys for over two years is very PSB. Strictly speaking it shouldn’t be, as successful hit makers Xenomania produced it and co-wrote three of the eleven tracks, and a handful of the songs were unfinished projects for other artists.

But, despite all that, Yes hangs together and is both more traditional PSB and uplifting than 2006’s Trevor Horn-produced Fundamental. The project started in 2007 when the electronic duo was working on songs that would eventually be turned down by Kylie.

The modern day Xenomania hit factory has produced some of the most memorable and successful songs of the last year or two, and critics pop-hating could say that’s why Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe asked to work with them – to make hits. Fair enough, but then why has Yes turned out to be the most PSB album since 1999’s Nightlife?

Granted, some of the songs have more than a shade of Girls Aloud-like hooks, but, when these are weaved with the PSB’s musical flourishes and compositions, it all works to great effect. The lead single Love etc for example, sounds unmistakably PSB, but was co-written by Xenomania, and was the first track completed for Yes.

But, how does the album stack up? In interviews promoting Yes, Neil Tennant has said that it’s an album of two traditional sides. So, here’s a track-by-track rundown of the theoretical side A. (*Warning* Contains spoilers, so don’t read if you want to discover Yes yourself.) Read part two of the review here for a rundown of tracks 7 to 11 on Yes, and This used to be the future, the first song on the bonus disc which forms part of the limited edition double CD Yes etc.

Love etc
The opening track is classic PSB (even with that Xenomania co-write credit) and you can’t have failed to have heard it – it’s been all over the radio the last few weeks. Telling listeners to eschew celebrity culture material belongings, the chants bring to mind the male voice choir on 1993’s Go West.

All over the world
Originally a swing beat song with another title, All over the world features an excerpt from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Suite. Allied to a rallying cry vocal, the uplifting song has both the full and grandiose feel and spectacle of certain previous PSB compositions.

Beautiful people
The Sixties-sounding Beautiful people started life as a possible theme tune for the Jonathan Harvey-penned and BBC-screened programme of the same name. More ‘proper’ music than electronic (using ‘proper’ instruments), it tells of possible happiness through fame and fortune.

Did you see me coming?
I liked this from the moment I heard it a few weeks ago, when it featured on the Pet Shop Boys Story: 25 Years of Hits CD given away with a certain Sunday newspaper. Not classic PSB in the traditional sense, it is happy sunny pop at its best, and relays the story of lovers meeting for the first time.

Vulnerable
French-sounding synth pop with sampled Spanish guitar flourishes best describes Vulnerable. Like its twin The way it used to be, this song has shades of Desireless’ 1980s Voyage Voyage and French supermarket pop to it in its electro bass line.

More than a dream
Another Xenomania co-write, More than a dream kicks in with a Girls Aloud-like sound, and is unmistakably a product of the hit making team. It’s none the worse for that, though, and marries the PSB sound with the Xenomania sound to great effect, making one of the highlights of the album.

Tags: Music, Pet Shop Boys

This entry was posted on Monday, March 23rd, 2009 at 10:42 pm and is filed under Music. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.