Disco Vol.2 - Pet Shop Boys

After the roaring success of ‘Very’ (1993), which reached the top of the British album charts, the Pet Shop Boys' follow-up album ‘Disco 2’ received a decidedly lukewarm reaction from their fans and the general public. Feedback from their fans indicates that it is probably their least popular album. I personally think this is a little unfair, as there is much to enjoy about this CD, even though it has certain shortcomings. ...
...in similar vain to the original ‘Disco’, which was released in 1986 and contained six Pet Shop Boys’ songs in remixed form. ‘Disco 2’ takes this a step further, containing twelve remixes played in a continuous mix by DJ Danny Rampling. On a purely cosmetic level, then, it is vastly different to any other Pet Shop Boys album. Some tracks are repeated two or three times, but as with different remixes by dfferent artists. ... more

After the roaring success of ‘Very’ (1993), which reached the top of the British album charts, the Pet Shop Boys' follow-up album ‘Disco 2’ received a decidedly lukewarm reaction from their fans and the general public. Feedback from their fans indicates that it is probably their least popular album. I personally think this is a little unfair, as there is much to enjoy about this CD, even though it has certain shortcomings.

‘Disco 2’ is a remix album in similar vain to the original ‘Disco’, which was released in 1986 and contained six Pet Shop Boys’ songs in remixed form. ‘Disco 2’ takes this a step further, containing twelve remixes played in a continuous mix by DJ Danny Rampling. On a purely cosmetic level, then, it is vastly different to any other Pet Shop Boys album. Some tracks are repeated two or three times, but as with different remixes by dfferent artists. Rollo’s excellent remix of ‘Absolutely Fabulous’* (the 'Our Tribe Tongue-In-Cheek Mix' is first used as an introduction to the album, then returns later on and is played out almost fully.

Various big names in dance remixing are present, including US DJ David Morales, Rollo from Faithless, Brothers In Rhythm, Jam & Spoon (aka. Storm who charted highly in 2000 with 'Time To Burn'), Junior Vasquez and Beatmasters.

There are some very good tracks on this album. The Rollo version of 'Absolutely Fabulous' is marvelously extravagant, capturing the playful spirit of the original and enhancing it with a strong introduction and quite comic break. 'Tongue-in-cheek' really is the best way to describe it. Early in the CD the back-to-back versions of 'I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind Of Thing' complement each other brilliantly, as the standard vocal riff of the Beatmaster's version gives way to the more broken vocal dub by Junior Vasquez. The uplifting Cocnut 1 remix of the brilliantly sarcastic 'Yesterday, When I Was Mad' is another highlight, but is cut woefully short by the mixing process. It too leads into another version of the same song, the melodic trance version by Jam & Spoon which sets the CD up for an excellent conclusion - the dark, deep 'We All Feel Better In The Dark (Brothers In Rhythm After Hours Climax Mix)'.

But the biggest failing of ‘Disco 2’ is where good remixes have been passed over in favour of inferior ones, or ignored entirely. The Farley and Heller remix of 'Go West' is not great, and the 'Mings Gone West: First And Second Movements' version would probably have been a better choice. Most of the songs on this album are taken from the 'Very' era, but omit a number of excellent remixes from this time. The smooth progressive lines of 'West End Girls (Sasha Remix)' from the 'I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind Of Thing' single would have been an ideal track. The swing version of 'Can You Forgive Her?' would have been a good addition too. Certainly, 'Liberation (E Smoove 12" Mix) should have beend ropped entirely - the Pet Shop Boys' major strength is their unsurpassed lyrical quality which is expressed particularly well in the original version of this song. This version, however, adds unnecessary pop rubbish over the top of it and a wholly pointless rap sequence. Forgettable.

Seeing as ‘So Hard’ and We All Feel Better In The Dark’ date back to the 1990 album ‘Behaviour’, there are a number of great mixes from this time which could have been used, including ‘How Can You Expect To Be Taken Seriously? (Brothers In Rhythm Perfect Attitude Mix)’ or the extended mixes of ‘Jealousy’ or ‘So Hard’. The stylish, minimal version of 'Miserablism' by Moby would have been a great addtion to the concluding set of songs.

The mixing isn’t excellent and seems a little pointless. I’d rather be able to listen to the mixes played out fully to get an idea of how different producers interpret different tracks. Of course, if you’ve already got the singles that feature these mixes, then this CD is pretty much pointless unless you are a big Pet Shop Boys (or Danny Rampling) fan. There are too many omissions and too many tracks stunted by the mixing process, particularly ‘So Hard (D. Morales Red Zone Mix)’ and ‘Yesterday, When I Was Mad (Coconut 1 12” Mix)’.

‘Disco 2’ would have been far better if it had kept the format of the original ‘Disco’ and been more selective about which tracks were used. It presents the Pet Shop Boys in an alternative light, one which many may not enjoy, as it focuses more on the dance edge of their songs rather than their lyrical and musical qualities. I would advise you listen to this before buying it.

Mix list:

Absolutely Fabulous (Rollo Our Tribe Tongue-In-Cheek Mix) (Intro)
I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind Of Thing (Beatmasters Extended Nude Mix)
I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind Of Thing (DJ Pierre Wild Pitch Mix)
Go West (Farley & Heller Mix)
Liberation (E Smoove 12” Mix)
So Hard (D. Morales Red Zone Mix)
Can You Forgive Her? (Rollo Dub)
Yesterday, When I Was Mad (Junior Vasquez Fabulous Dub)
Absolutely Fabulous (Rollo Our Tribe Tongue-In-Cheek Mix)
Yesterday, When I Was Mad (Coconut 1 12” Mix)
Yesterday, When I Was Mad (Jam & Spoon Mix)
We All Feel Better In The Dark (Brothers In Rhythm After Hours Climax Mix)

*Though released under the artist name of 'Absolutely Fabulous' for the Comic Relief charity, the song was actually written and produced by the Pet Shop Boys. This is the only Pet Shop Boys album it features on.  

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