Fundamental - Pet Shop Boys

Fundamental by the Pet Shop Boys was released in May 2006 and is probably their most overtly political album yet. The title itself sets out their outlook and almost certainly refers to fundamentalism, particularly in the American approach to world management.

It is also a return to form after a couple of somewhat lacklustre albums but sadly didn't quite set the charts alight on release. Although it peaked in the UK album charts at ...
...didn't make a huge dent apart from the first one, "I'm With Stupid"

Sound wise, the welcome return of producer Trevor Horn has a slightly retro effect and it sounds in many ways like their first couple of albums but with a sheen that shows how their craft has developed over the years plus of course the sort of orchestral additions that Trevor Horn is so good at along with help from Ann Dudley from the Art of Noise. That said, ... more

Fundamental by the Pet Shop Boys was released in May 2006 and is probably their most overtly political album yet. The title itself sets out their outlook and almost certainly refers to fundamentalism, particularly in the American approach to world management.

It is also a return to form after a couple of somewhat lacklustre albums but sadly didn't quite set the charts alight on release. Although it peaked in the UK album charts at number 5, it wasn't around too long and the singles didn't make a huge dent apart from the first one, "I'm With Stupid"

Sound wise, the welcome return of producer Trevor Horn has a slightly retro effect and it sounds in many ways like their first couple of albums but with a sheen that shows how their craft has developed over the years plus of course the sort of orchestral additions that Trevor Horn is so good at along with help from Ann Dudley from the Art of Noise. That said, there's nothing new here so don't expect to discover the future direction of pop, what there is though is an excellent example of the Pet Shop Boys at their best.

Track Listing:

1. "Psychological" is a slightly slow paced number but is a fine opener with slightly oblique lyrics pointing to the fears and obsessions of the War on Terror "Is it a cry for help or call for arms? Frustration, False Alarms". A nice soft bass line carries the tune with some good backing vocal work from Neil Tennant.

2. "The Sodom and Gomorrah Show" brings a sudden tempo change and the opening moments remind me of Frankie Goes to Hollywood's epic track 'Welcome to the Pleasuredome." A Spoken introduction gives way to a driving synthed guitar and arpeggiated line before giving way to the song proper. Lyrically it's a call to be yourself and to hedonism "You've got to love, To learn to live, Where angels fear to tread" and describes a quite stay at home type who gets introduced to a world of "Sun, sex, sin, divine intervention". A great song that shows they can still write pure rocking pop with the best of them.

3. "I made my excuses and left" is another slower track with a beautifully produced signature Trevor Horn string intro. A meloncholic song of awkwardness and deeply supressed feelings "Each of you looked up, But no one said a word, I felt I should apologise, For what I hadn't heard". Musically it has subtle burbling noises laying down the basic rhythym but with lush strings over the top.

4. "Minimal" is about, well minimalism. A medium paced track with heavily processed vocals on the chorus ala Speak and Spell and more typical Trevor Horn work with strings and woodwind elements plus a bass guitar break in the middle that sounds like it escaped from New Order's Peter Hook. Sounding a little like recent Kraftwerk, another fine track.

5. "Numb". More strings, cymble crashes and all that good stuff before moving on to a slow and desperately moving song about having had enough of all the troubles in the world. "Don't wanna hear the news,
What's going on". Tennant sounds truly desperate and world weary as he almost pleads "I wanna be numb, I don't wanna feel this pain no more, Wanna lose touch, I just wanna go and lock the door". I'm sure we've all been there at one time or another. Sad as it is, I love this song for it's ability to perfectly create real emotion and as such it is a testament to their craft even if it does almost drive me to tears every time. That said, it was actually written by Diane Warren but their realisation is perfect.

6. "God willing" is a short intrumental - just a over a minute. Not bad but nothing stunning either.

7. "Luna Park" On the face of it, a gentle song about enjoying life at an amusement park but with a darker allegorical side with a more poltical dig "A storm will come one day, To blow us all away" making this a companion song to both Psychological and Sodom and Gomorrah.

8. "I'm with Stupid" Just wonderful. All about Bush/Blair and the so called special relationship. Brilliant lyrics that start "See you on the TV,
Call you every day, Fly across the ocean, Just to let you get your way". musically a more typically PSB track with a great pop sound, all crashing drum breaks and well crafted riffs and synth stabs. The way the song describes their relationship as a seduction followed by doubts is dryly amusing "I have to ask myself, like any lover might: , Have you made a fool of me? Are you not Mr. Right?" The sort of things they do so well. Love it.

9. "Casanova in Hell" A bit average and one of my least favourite tracks. Apparantly about 18th century historical figure Giacomo Casanova and his numerous conquests which he documented religiously.

10. "Twentieth Century" is another standout track. Nice soft bass line and subtle synth arrangements make this a musically fine track. Lyrically it's all about the West stamping around the world doing more harm than good "Sometimes the solution, Is worse than the problem" and notes "Everyone came, To destroy what was rotten, But they killed off what was good as well." More than a little truth in their I suspect.

11. "Indefinite leave to remain" is all about the UK's immigration system and the perspective from someone going through the process. Another almost pleading song touched with both sadness and hope backed by more gorgeous arrangments c/o Mr Horn. Over all too soon at just 3 mins.

12. "Integral" The closing track is an absolute stormer and opens with "if you've done nothing wrong, you've got nothing to fear, if you've something to hide you shouldn't even be here" and is a biting attack on the Nation ID card scheme which caused Tennant to publically withdraw his support for the Labour party. "We're concerned , You're a threat, You're not integral, To the project ". Both musically and lyrically this is a fantastic track and one of the few songs on any album I can play over and over without getting bored. A driving upbeat number not unlike 'It's a Sin' and a classic PSB track in every way. Just perfect.

Conclusion

It's sad thing that pure pop music is so out of fashion in the UK. This album puts the Pet Shop Boys back at the very top of their game and is excellent in almost every way, assuming the political messages sit well with you and even if not, the tunes themselves along with the fine production work can't help but please. In any sane world, this album should have dominated the charts when released and if you've ever had any sort of liking for the Pet Shop Boys or like incisive lyrics with a real message then this album won't fail to please. A mature album of quality that will please your feet and mind in equal amounts.. 

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