Pet Shop Boys Community

I've always wished that the Pet Shop Boys would make part 2 albums of Behaviour and Relentless. (But not call them part 2).
Completely different but both masterpieces.

Distorted Vision wrote: Mon 03 Aug 2026, 11:42 pm I've always wished that the Pet Shop Boys would make part 2 albums of Behaviour and Relentless. (But not call them part 2).
Completely different but both masterpieces.

They kind of did those with “Nonetheless” and “Electric.” “Nonetheless” shares much of the same subject matter and overall sound of “Behaviour” while PSB themselves have compared “Electric” to “Introspective” and “Relentless.”

Gabby wrote: Thu 14 May 2026, 8:50 pm As much as I quite like the Price trilogy, I think it would be wrong to have him produce PSB again. He did what needed to be done when they left Parlophone, and maybe overstayed his welcome by the time Hotspot rolled around (although I think Hotspot is mostly a great album).
I don't think James Ford did them any favours - Drico already mentioned that he stripped the demos of their PSB character, and I tend to agree.

I respectfully disagree. After listening to both the demos and produced album, I truly think Ford did what a great producer does with “Nonetheless” which is to elevate the material. To me, many of the PSB demos, while undeniably good songs, sounded simply like more of the same. Ford added missing nuance to many of the songs and gave the typical PSB sound a somewhat broader appeal, and perhaps made the material more accessible to a general audience. With “Feel” the transformation is truly dramatic, taking a demo with many electronic rough edges and making it smooth. In fact, the difference is a revelation, taking a somewhat typical sounding PSB demo and elevating it to classic status. In other places, such as “Bullet for Narcissus” I think the song benefits from the more minimal presentation. The bass line he added to “Dancing star” makes this particular piece much less pedestrian.

While PSB love the “synths into strings” ascetic, I think their use of orchestras has yielded mixed results over the years, sometimes working to dramatic effect (“Left to my own devices”, “Behaviour”) and sometimes, at least for me, sounding overwrought or even falling flat (“Nightlife”, “Fundamental”). With “Nonetheless” I genuinely feel Ford helped them realize their vision with the perfect balance of orchestra and gentle analog electronics. In fact, the only PSB demo I prefer to the Ford production is “Loneliness” where I think Ford’s revisions went too far, but otherwise I think the impact of “Nonetheless” would have been muted without Ford’s involvement, though I think Andrew Dawson might have done a great job with the material as well.

Gabby wrote: Thu 14 May 2026, 8:50 pm As much as I quite like the Price trilogy, I think it would be wrong to have him produce PSB again. He did what needed to be done when they left Parlophone, and maybe overstayed his welcome by the time Hotspot rolled around (although I think Hotspot is mostly a great album).

I don't think James Ford did them any favours - Drico already mentioned that he stripped the demos of their PSB character, and I tend to agree.

I'm deadly serious when I say that I think Ian Broudie of Lightning Seeds might inject something special without losing what makes PSB, PSB but if we're looking for someone new and present that might make people sit up and notice, what about Fred Again?

In general agreement on this - 2 albums of SP would have been enough. Do love Electric especially though. I actually listen to the demo album of nonetheless over the actual album nowadays tbh. An opportunity missed with Ford sadly imo

I'd be happy to see them do a few bits if not a full album with a current dance producer a bit like they did in the late 80s/early 90s/Flamboyant etc - Fred Again would certainly be interesting - Lewis Stephenson of ConMan would be one I'd love to see

Well I guess William Orbit is no longer an option...RIP

I just saw the news. So sad - gone too soon. RIP William Orbit.

Damn, 69 years old. First Kavinsky now Orbit. Crazy week for dance and electronic music...

What a shame RIP

Jean-Michel Jarre

You're welcome.

Damn !
RIP William Orbit

Playing Pieces in modern style as a tribute....

Gesaffelstein

The Blessed Madonna

daveid wrote: Fri 01 May 2026, 8:12 pm I'm really not a fan of this since 1984 stuff. It's all a bit predictable, cynical and nostalgic, the sort of thing OMD and Marillion do in their pursuit of endless fan love. Just record another album or two, bring out a couple more compilations and arty sideprojects then retire gracefully.

If they were a football team, they'd stick four stars on their shirt, one for each decade (or UK number one). They are basically celebrating (and commodifying) longevity. Do you have a message for your fans?

I'd like someone new to produce the next album but I can't see them going for anyone who's experimental. They have always sought a commercial pop sound. What's de rigueur these days?

I liked what James Ford did on Nonetheless. It seems he's doing fine now. Heard his new record and I liked it

Nice to hear, he is doing okay, having had cancer myself it’s one heck of a journey!