2:34pm Monday 15th February 2010
By Harris Dee
PET SHOP BOYS: PANDEMONIUM CD AND LIVE DVD from the 02 London December 21, 2009 (Parlophone): What a treat this is for PSB fans – and there are still plenty of them even though they are 30 years into their successful partnership, which is the most successful duo in pop history. They’ve sold more than 100 million records and had a new album out – Yes - only last March. And they remain the electronic dance pop wizards, with the show including tracks from Yes and all their big hits.
This CD and DVD are from their ultra successful Pandemonium tour which sold out everywhere, but don’t expect very much that’s new. They are both recorded at the live show at the 02 London on December 21 last year, one hour and 37 minutes of PSB magic on the DVD, and that will be enough to keep fans happy. There is also a whisper that they are now back in the recording studios working on a new LP.
The duo – Neil Tennant on vocals and keyboards and Chris Lowe on keyboards extraordinaire – are in great form from the minute they emerge onto the Cubism theme set. OK, there are not a lot of them to fill a huge stage, but with Chris behind his giant magic box of tricks, and Neil surrounded by colourful dancers, every second is filled with music and colour. There is a giant screen behind with at times giant moving images, loads of flashing lights (be warned) and colour everywhere. When the pair walk on with their heads in boxes you know this will be something different! Throughout the show their headgear takes on more shapes and colours than even Elton John’s eyegear, and it shows the two have a great sense of humour and connection with their fans that they know they can pull it off.
The tracklist (see below) includes such classis as ‘Suburbia’, ‘It’s a Sin’, ‘Domino Dancing’ and ‘West End Girls’, plus covers of Madness’ ‘My Girl’ and Coldplay’s ‘Viva la Vida’.
As well as the 02 concert the DVD also seven extras including a concert seasonal number ‘It doesn’t often snow at Christmas’ from their Christmas EP, My Girl live, videos of ‘Did you see me coming’, ‘All over the world’ and the 2009 BRITS Awards Outstanding Contribution to Music performance featuring Lady Gaga and Brandon Flowers from the Killers, and audio commentary by the PSBs and Es Devlin.
This colourful showcase of the band’s music proves they still have plenty of miles left in them yet and it will spectacularly swamp your senses especially if you can watch on a big screen.
The CD track list includes 17 songs from the show: More than a dream / Heart, Did you see me coming?, Pandemonium / Can you forgive her?, Love etc, Go West, Two divided by zero, Why don’t we live together?, New York City boy, Always on my mind, Closer to heaven / Left to my own devices, Do I have to?, King’s Cross, Suburbia, Se a vida e / Discoteca / Domino Dancing / Viva la vida, It’s a sin, Being Boring, West Endgirls.
The 02 London December 21 2009 DVD film includes: More than a dream / Heart, Did you see me coming?, Pandemonium / Can you forgive her?, Love etc, Building a wall, Go West, Two divided by zero, Why don’t we live together?, New York City boy, Always on my mind, Closer to heaven / Left to my own devices, Do I have to?, King’s Cross, The way it used to be, Jealousy, Suburbia, What have I done to deserve this?, All over the world, Se a vida e / Discoteca / Domino Dancing / Viva la vida, It’s a sin, Being Boring, West End girls.
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