Track-by-Track: From Please to Nonetheless

[leesmapman]

It's an ok update of a classic, made in a style that was hip at the time. I like when they do these sometimes (Violence, Left to my Own Devices, Furthermore EP, etc). Not an earth shattering track, but fun nonetheless.

[Patrick Bateman]

I don't mind when they change something to play it live for the 1,000th time but not bothered about them releasing them. Don't think I've ever played the bonus disc for Nonetheless.

[daveid]

Greetings,

The slightly longer version on Release FL does slightly improved it btw

These are kind of random tidbits I love about conversation here. I'd never have noticed or thought to check if they were different otherwise. On quick inspection it seems the original is an "early fade", whereas FL & Format seem to have gone for the fuller version from which the original b-side version was cut.

I noticed a similar quirk recently with The Boy Who Couldn't Keep His Clothes on. The original b-side version (aka "Main Vocal") is 20 seconds shorter than the "International Club Mix" which appears on Bilingual Remixed and has a different intro... and curiously, from that point in time on, both FL & Format appear to be using the International Club variant despite the absence of any specific mix labeling.

Anyhow.

Retro.

And That's my impression on Alternative and Please FL is in fact the disco mix.

[telys]

Greetings,

The slightly longer version on Release FL does slightly improved it btw

These are kind of random tidbits I love about conversation here. I'd never have noticed or thought to check if they were different otherwise. On quick inspection it seems the original is an "early fade", whereas FL & Format seem to have gone for the fuller version from which the original b-side version was cut.

I noticed a similar quirk recently with The Boy Who Couldn't Keep His Clothes on. The original b-side version (aka "Main Vocal") is 20 seconds shorter than the "International Club Mix" which appears on Bilingual Remixed and has a different intro... and curiously, from that point in time on, both FL & Format appear to be using the International Club variant despite the absence of any specific mix labeling.

Anyhow.

Retro.

And That's my impression on Alternative and Please FL is in fact the disco mix.

Is the 7" only available on CD on Essential?

[davidctecno]

Track 178 : "Psychological" : Fundamental CD1; Track 01

Finally we arrived to "Fundamental" , a politic album.

Psychological:

A very paranoid, mysterious, and terrifying song: unconventional album opener for the Pet Shop Boys’ 2006 album, Fundamental

Musically, it stands out for the elegance of its immersive, synth-driven production—characteristic of the group's collaboration with Trevor Horn during that period—achieving a texture that traps the listener in a mental loop.

[Lleonard Pler]

Their most intriguing opener. The title fits the theme and sound, an addictive track that seems to introduce us into their darkest album yet. Is it so? We'll see in the next songs...

[NotInvisible]

Track 178 : "Psychological" : Fundamental CD1; Track 01

I used to not really rate this one, because it's not very melodic or specific. But these days I bloody love it. I have a lot more time for Release than most, but Fundamental sees the Pet Shop Boys return to their imperial phase level of quality. Just an astonishing album.

[leesmapman]

Fantastic track. Great opener for a great album

[Gabby]

I remember picking the promo 12" up before the release of the album, and wasn't even sure it was PSB initially. Just took it on blind faith that it was.

Great start to the Fundamental album.

[Capsigrany]

Great track that has aged really well. Very different, very moody and very electro. One of the best things in Fundamental (not a very much loved album by me).

[MikeyC]

Also a great opening to the Fundamental Tour!! (at least in North America; they later changed the opening to We’re the Pet Shop Boys)

[Patrick Bateman]

Fantastic track. Weren't they originally going to open the album with a longer version of God Willing?

I need to listen to Fundamental again; it's been a while. Such a good album.

[daveid]

Wow, so we are exactly half-way through this 20 year journey now. I have very happy memories of this time with all the build-up to the new album and with the instrumental version of Psychological on the internet. In fact I joined this forum in February 2006 during a seven month overseas holiday. The fact that this event is now closer to the release of Please than it is to now is bizarre and disturbing.

[telys]

Wow, so we are exactly half-way through this 20 year journey now. I have very happy memories of this time with all the build-up to the new album and with the instrumental version of Psychological on the internet. In fact I joined this forum in February 2006 during a seven month overseas holiday. The fact that this event is now closer to the release of Please than it is to now is bizarre and disturbing.

I find comfort in that I can still look forward to and enjoy a new PSB album in 2026... the same way I did in 1987. When I was a kid, I used to get "the new PSB album" for christmas or birthday. Sometimes it was an LP, sometimes it was a 12'' maxi.
It's still this way but now I buy for myself or another copy to my kids. It's sort of like entering a bubble where time doesn't exist in the same way.

[Birthday Boy]

Fundamental is my second-favourite Pet Shop Boys album, I love nearly everything about it. However, Psychological for me is their weakest album opener together with Happiness on Super. Not because I dislike the song, but rather because they normally tend to have really strong album openers in my opinion.

Psychological is a bit weird in that regard. I would agree that there isn't that much melody, and I also always find it strange that the volume seems so quiet at the beginning. On the other hand, this means that there is this awesome moment when the volume goes up after two and a half minutes (the "or is it only your imagination"-bit), which is by far my favourite part of the song. Almost like a wake-up call that says "pay attention, the album starts for real now".

Apart from that, what really stands out for me is the production in general. I don't know if it is because of Trevor Horn or whether it was just a happy accident (probably the former though), but I do believe that Fundamental is by far their best-sounding album production-wise. Just brilliant, and in my opinion, Psychological in particular is a song that is enhanced a lot by this (and probably could have been a lot worse with a less-sophisticated production).

On it's own, this isn't a song I listen to regularly, however, as some sort of elongated intro to the other songs on Fundamental, I do think it's a really interesting piece of music that has grown on me. That being said, I still think that God willing or maybe the Sodom and Gomorrah show might have been better album openers. I'm really looking forward to the other songs on this album and also on the further listening disc, because in my opinion, there is some of their best material on it.