It Involves Hamsters - Apparently! (Introspective - Pet Shop Boys)

Member Name: blackjane

Product:	Introspective - Pet Shop Boys
Date:	10/11/01 (115 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Dancey!, Great Tunes!

Disadvantages: Only six tracks

The year was 1988, and after a couple of hit albums and a string of hit singles (including three number ones) the Pet Shop Boys decided to go all Introspective on us.

In a radical move away from the usual ten track album, that was the expected 'norm' from pop groups, we were treated instead to a dance album with six extended versions of their songs. Of course this wasn't the first time that the Pet Shop Boys had done this, as we had already undertaken a similar project, 'Disco', a few years before in 1986.

On this occasion the tracks were as follows:

• Left To My Own Devices
• I Want A Dog
• Domino Dancing
• I'm Not Scared
• Always On My Mind / In MY House
• It's Alright

As well as one track that had already been a hit for the duo the previous year, namely 'Always On My Mind', three of the other songs also became hit singles for the Pet Shop Boys in their own right, albeit in edited form. In addition, the track 'I'm Not Scared' had also been a hit for the group Eighth Wonder, fronted by Patsy Kensit. To complete the picture 'I Want A Dog' had been a previous B-side on the 'Rent' single in 1987.

So in some ways this album can be considered to be a mini greatest hits set, although the tracks are all extended dance versions.

Weighing in at over eight minutes, 'Left To My Own Devices', in the mix included on this album, is an orchestral epic complete with the sort of lyrical pomposity you may have come to expect (Remember: 'Che Guevara and Debussy to a disco beat?')

'I Want A Dog' is a plodding hypnotic track, briefer than its pedecessor at just over six minutes. The lyrics examine companionship complete with a typical Neil Tennant vocal. Although quite an interesting listen it is probably my least favourite of all the six tracks on this album.

In quite a ra
dical change in direction 'Domino Dancing' is a Latin influenced piece, produced by Lewis A. Martinee. Some critics cite this track as the beginning of the end for the Pet Shop Boys, as although they still managed to hit the top ten several times after releasing this song as a single, they never quite seemed to be able to scale the same chart heights as they had been able to in the past.

'I'm Not Scared' is classic Pet Shop Boys, and in line with many of the songs that they have written for other artists, the duo tend to like to record their own version as well. Although I adored Eighth Wonder's version, this is one time where I believe that the Pet Shop Boys' own version of the track surpasses the alternative version.

'Always On My Mind', the single, was a complete masterstroke. It brushed the competition aside during Christmas 1987, climbing to the top of the singles chart for four weeks. To cover a track made famous by Elvis Presley is no mean feat (although the track was written and had also been performed by Willie Nelson.) The fact that this country song was given a totally different Hi-NRG dance treatment worked a treat and remains one of my favourite PSB tracks of all time. The version on Introspective has a much more sparse arrangement than the more frenetic single version. It also merges, medley-like into 'In My House', which is more of a deeper trance like song, although this only features relatively briefly in the middle of this nine minute epic mix.

'It's Alright' is a cover version of a Sterling Void song, and is a fitting close to this album. It is certainly much more of a laid back dance track, with a 'house' piano sound throughout.

Although I also like to listen to the edited versions of these songs, I like the extra exposure that they are given on this album.

The Pet Shop Boys have written and produced some innovative music in the fiftten
years or so that they have been making music. However, in trying to do something different with Introspective, we were certainly treated to a worthy addition to the PSB album discography with this release.

Although available now as a mid-price budget release for about £7, it should also be possible to pick the CD up second-hand for as little as £3-£4 in some places.

{An original Dooyoo opinion
© Blackjane 2001}

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