Pet Shop Boys – Nonetheless Review and the Show Rolls on

Since 1984 the Pet Shop Boys have been churning out albums every 2 to 3 years and unlike some other 80’s bands who are still touring and recording new material, each album by the Pet Shop Boys has been as fresh as their first. Their new work doesn’t feel old and outdated, it doesn’t feel tired or make then seem as though they are out of new ideas or just scraping the barrel to earn a few extra pounds.

Nonetheless will keep Pet Heads (as their fans are known) happy, I can pinpoint three albums that the style can be compared to, Behaviour, Very and Elysium. Not completely of course, because the Pet Shop Boys don’t have a style, yes they’re predominantly in the Electronic sector and that’s what they’re known for, but they have proven they can produce many styles, you only have to listen to Format (an album with a collection of B Sides and demos), they’ve done disco, Brit-pop, drum & bass, rave, pop, chill-out and even ballet.

Nonetheless feels like it takes us on a journey through Covid with Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, songs like Loneliness can certainly be firmly put in Covid and it’s unsurprising really as this album was predominantly written through the pandemic.

Shall we deal with the only negative about the album, it’s strange to talk about a negative with a compliment. On the Dancing Star single there are some great remixes but the stand out for me was a song they penned called ‘Sense of Time’, an absolute banger of a tune that I feel should’ve been on the album. Why am I saying that when I can listen any time on the Dancing Star single? Well, I think it means that many millions around the world who just download the album and don’t bother with the singles will sadly never hear it. Sense of Time begs to be listened to, it’s a surefire dance floor favourite, a good old-fashioned rave tune (yes I’m using old-fashioned when talking about rave, crazy I know but that’s an era from our past now). The only thing I can hope is that if people are reading this review then they’ll search for this tune and enjoy it like it deserves.

There goes the rant, so what are the highlights of this album, those songs that deserve 6 out of 5 rather than just a measly 5 out of 5. The first one that jumps out is New London Boy, a classic PSB song that’ll stand the test of time, it’s melodic with a great catchy chorus, and then Neil treats us to a new rap, something that if you recall bestowed fame upon the boys in the first place, a rap in the style of West End Girls. Excellent, thanks for gifting us this once again. New London Boy is also rather orchestral, a trend that runs through Nonetheless. The album’s opener and first single from the album is another highlight, Loneliness is the same type of opener as Being Boring, a lengthy slow intro that then brings us into a good beat with a chorus you can instantly sing along to, it’s unsurprising they chose this as their first single. Feel is a distinctly modern 80’s electronic classic with some nice harmonies.

I’m going to cull myself now, I don’t want to ramble on, so a conclusion seems the most sensible cause of action. I don’t think anybody can deny that the Pet Shop Boys are the most prolific music writers in the history of pop music, Since 1984 they’ve written so many tracks that I have lost track, don’t be fooled into thinking they’re limited to a new album of 10ish songs every 2 or 3 years, the truth is that alongside their albums came B-Sides, not just space fillers either, some of their B-Sides, as we’ve already discussed (Sense of Time) are bonafide classics in their own right, they’ve occasionally treated us to a collection of such tracks, ‘Alternative’ and ‘Format’, then there are the songs written or mixed for other bands and artists, in fact, I have a playlist containing Elton John, Robbie Williams, Lady Ga-Ga, The Killers, Yoko Ono, David Bowie, Kylie Minogue, Soft Cell, Jean-Michel Jarre, Years & Years plus a load more, all duets or collaborations. There’s more, have a look at most of their back catalogue and you’ll find versions called ‘Further Listening’. The world is a flood with Pet Shop Boys music and they just keep churning them out. Now I’ve listened to a lot of 80’s bands’ new music, and whilst some tracks are good, there is absolutely nobody who can compare to Pet Shop Boys, and long may it continue, I hope that Neil and Chris carry on forever, even if they need to use zimmer frames to get to the keyboard and microphone. Pet Shop Boys know how to keep their identity whilst keeping up with the times. Timeless, that’s the word I’ve been searching for whilst writing this. Is ‘Nonetheless Pet Shop Boys at their best? Obviously, they never waiver from the best, and yes I did enjoy ‘Release’ (Petheads will know what I mean)