Boys win hearts on their Love Quest.

Lush melodies In Nightlife 12-track thematic song-cycle testify to the maturity Of the Pet Shop Boys NIGHTLIFE, the Pet Shop Boys' seventh studio album, is certainly no less satisfying than any of the duo's previous output. Musically, its assured return to orchestral dance pop represents the duo's redoubtable focus on the to mantic quest, albeit one besieged with struggles that threaten as well as reinforce hope.

The album celebrates the darker side of life as a proverbial 1eapoffalthto, as it were, fully embrace the challenge. Its 12 tracks form a thematic song-cycle to show how pitfalls are naturally inherent in such a quest. The lush musical arrangement is surely a metaphor for pride and faith -the kind witnessed only in artistes as Mantra as the Pet Shop Boys. In contrast to the previous album Bilingual, which was lyrically more personal, 'the new album's lyrics are not necessarily reflections of me", says Neil Tennant, the vocal-half of the' duo "In some ways," he continues, "the album reminds me of one of those Frank Sinatra albums from the '50s, like In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning. It's a sort of modern pop-dance version, or an orchestrated Eurodisco record with a twist."

Here is a track-by-track p:

1. For Your Own Good As Tennant himself says: 'This is like an introduction to the album. A big dance track with a big keyboard ruff. It's about someone waiting for their loved one to come and see them. I imagine it to be from a woman's point of view." This grand opener is produced by dance-producer Rollo, also of the group Faithless.

2. Closer To Heaven With chilling synth-chords; this continues the epic sweep of the album's opener and closes in on the plaintive lover's hopes: 'Have some faith in the life we share … Tell me now you're coming back to stay." Beautifully orchestrated by Craig Armstrong and unapologet-ically Euro-house.

3. I Don't Know What You Want But I Can't Give It Anymore Released as the ping single almost three months ago, this magnificent track combines some of the Pet Shop Boys' best qualities - rephrasing pop clichés into heartfelt lyrics and turning mechanized electro-pop in- to soulful grooves. Or as one critic said of the track: Grand heartbreak of diva-p magnitude sung by the best (and most misunderstood) lad-voice of erudite English pop.

4. Happiness Is An Option "This is the most 'recent Song we've written," says Tennant, "a sort of hip-hop rap song inspired by Rach- maninoffs Vocalesce. The female vocal refrain 'It is not easy' is borrowed from George Clinton." Stylistically, it is in the same vein as the. Duo's own West End Girls and If There Was Love, which the duo wrote for Liza Minelli.

5. You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk Another killer-title, this plays tip its cheesy factor with a countryside twang complete with pedal-steel guitar from B.J. Cole. The chorus' melody echoes Jim Crock's I'll Have To Say I Love you in a song not that Tennant is even aware of it.

6. Vampires "It's based on the connect of psyche is vampires," Tennant explains someone who'll suck all your ideas out and use them for themselves." The lyrics ("It's a reflex like fear or sex") is partly inspired by pulpfiction writer John Rechy. This moody atmospheric ballad features a real bass player, something that is rarely done with the Pet Shop Boys.

7. Radiophonic A gurgling Kraftwerk-like intro leads into a dancey house track that was meant initially as a retro-'80s experiment a la Patrick Cowley. "But with Rollo (producing), we got back into the '90s," says Tennant. About the chorus refrain "I think I'm in love", the singer explains thus: "It's the classic nightlife concept of someone getting wrecked in a nightclub and thinks he's in love with someone or something... then he has a terrible hangover".

8. The Only One A very romantic (ballad) with a twist - about someone in love and not knowing if the someone they're in love with can be trusted," says Tennant's music-part-ner Chris Lowe. Scored by Armstrong again, the initial chords "nicked from (Underworld's) Born Slippy have (since) been replaced.

9. Boy Strange A song about "unsuitable boyfriends" with whom "you just know they're trouble" (Tennant) set to a slow industrialambient synth backdrop which Lowe considers to be "quite rock 'n' roll for us". Tennant confides that "originally the chorus was a bit like Nirvana... but now I can imagine Brett Anderson from Suede singing it".

l0 In Denial? A duet with Kylie Minogue, this lush ballad according to Tennant "is a story about a gay father, and his daughter, and it's difficult for the both of them. He knows his life is 'absurd and upside down' "Or as Minogue's character sings: It one filled with "queens and fairies and muscle marys. A touching portrayal of: Ruth and acceptance in a tussle.

11. New York City Boy This hi-N-R-G tribute to the Village People was primarily CO-producer David Morals idea. He wanted to do it as "a; big disco anthem" which it certainly is with panache and punch. This primitive Pet Shop Boys' new single is also one of Tennant's favorite lyrics on the album, throwaway as it sounds. Certainly one that will help sell the albums

12. Footsteps A mid-tempo ballad with a muted oriental motif that, according to Tennant, "is slightly R & B-flavoured". He also explains: "We. Never really used classical choirs before 'COs I used to think it's a' bit pretentious (to do). But in fact, where I'm singing 'Loneliness induces fear 'like waves against a ramshackle' pier' with the choir singing behind, it sounds very moving to me. Lowe sees the song as the album's coda wherein the woman at the start of the album is still waiting with these sung words: "just as long as I hear your footsteps in the dark, that's all l need". So we wonder: The woman is waiting at home and the. Guy is obviously living it up a club, which side is the record on ?

'I think both. It under; stands both points of view,' says Tennant.

Special thanks You My Lovely Friend Angela Glasgow For sending me this Article

This interview was published in the 1st October 1999 issue of THE STRAITS TIMES.