Pet Shop Boys Community

I put on Disco 2 the other day and actually listened to Liberation (E Smoove 12'' mix edit) all the way through.
And on its own it's not a bad track, listenable. As a remix of Liberation (off Very) it's probably one of the most weird tracks in the PSB catalogue.
To my ears there is nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, left from the original song on this mix. There are many remixes that deviate significantly from the original but they always retain something from the original, be it just a snippet of the vocals or a riff.
But this one? Maybe someone who is more into the music stuff can answer. Is there anything from the original left in the remix (chord change, riff etc)?
If not, could this even be credited to Tennant/Lowe? (Yes, I know that remixers are paid an amount and that's it, but still)
And ought it then be credited to Miller (as in E Smoove) only?

Is this a personal project, if you don't mind me asking? Identifying all the writing credits on all of the tracks in existence?

For me it's nothing different from the dozens of remixes that have nothing to do with the original except one quote from the song with the word Dance in it (eg. "Dance to disco" - Can you forgive her?, "Dance with me" - Paninaro 95)

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Did you see how all the remixes in Disco 4 and Disco 5 sound so Pet shop boys?
Exactly.
Remixes are supposed to sound like the producer, not the original artist.
Extended mixes are 80s memorabilia.

Also just to flag the 7" mix contains the whole vocal of the song within it, so I think you're meaning to ask about the 12"

telys wrote: Wed 07 Jan 2026, 4:43 pmAnd ought it then be credited to Miller (as in E Smoove) only?

The 7" mix retains the song structure, which means the 12" mix is fundamentally based around the original song, even though the vocals have been stripped out. It's not something Miller wrote independently. Imagine a U2 track where all four of them wrote it but the drums were dropped out of the final mix - the drummer still earned that credit.

Check out some Aphex Twin remixes.

Spittingcat wrote: Wed 07 Jan 2026, 7:42 pm Check out some Aphex Twin remixes.

Which one? Doesn't matter, he didn't listen to the original anyway.

I have probably misinformed myself by only re-listening to the edit on Disco 2 where there is nothing from the original left.
Anyway, to my ears there is enough new lyrics to warrant an addition to the credits.

telys wrote: Thu 08 Jan 2026, 10:35 am I have probably misinformed myself by only re-listening to the edit on Disco 2 where there is nothing from the original left.
Anyway, to my ears there is enough new lyrics to warrant an addition to the credits.

Yes that's edited from a full 12 mins+ of utter tedium. Like you I can't hear any of the original track in it. The 7" edit does crowbar some of Neil's voice in it but as far as I'm concerned that acts more as a sample into a different track entirely than a remix.

BugBoy wrote: Fri 09 Jan 2026, 1:01 am

telys wrote: Thu 08 Jan 2026, 10:35 am I have probably misinformed myself by only re-listening to the edit on Disco 2 where there is nothing from the original left.
Anyway, to my ears there is enough new lyrics to warrant an addition to the credits.

Yes that's edited from a full 12 mins+ of utter tedium. Like you I can't hear any of the original track in it. The 7" edit does crowbar some of Neil's voice in it but as far as I'm concerned that acts more as a sample into a different track entirely than a remix.

But Neil and Chris okeyed these remixes, so they must have liked it or wanted to make some kind of ironic statement.
Too bad, because Liberation could've been the base for some great classic 12'' mixes.

I remember reading Neil say he didn’t LOVE the E Smoove mixes. I’ve always liked them.

Chris has stated that he really like the remixes, he came in to a club in Rio, and that mix was on, and he said it sounded amazing. Neil has said that he doesn’t “love” them. Personally i think they are great for the dance floor, and that’s what they were made for.

Synthrobot wrote: Fri 09 Jan 2026, 4:55 pm I remember reading Neil say he didn’t LOVE the E Smoove mixes. I’ve always liked them.

Me too.

Disco. wrote: Fri 09 Jan 2026, 4:57 pm Personally i think they are great for the dance floor, and that’s what they were made for.

That's the problem for most of us who never get to the dancefloor that often to be able to enjoy those remixes. Remixes for enjoyment at home are what drives me forward