Pet Shop Boys, the enduring dynamic duo of synth-pop, have returned with their 15th studio album Nonetheless, a body of work that proves the pair haven’t lost a step. With a career spanning over three decades, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe continue to evolve their musical output while staying true to their signature sound. On their latest effort for Parlophone, Pet Shop Boys worked with producer James Ford (Jessie Ware, Depeche Mode, Blur, Gorillaz) to help bring their vision to life.
At the heart of Nonetheless lies an optimistic exploration of human emotions, framed within the pulsating beats and infectious melodies that define the Pet Shop Boys’ style. The album opens with the lead single “Loneliness,” a swirling disco number that implores the listener that there’s more to life than isolation. Tennant’s vocals haven’t changed at all, sounding exactly like he did during the height of the pair’s imperial phase. It’s not surprising to read that much of the album was written during various COVID lockdowns. “Loneliness” especially captures the feelings of the transition into post-pandemic life, while still remaining hopeful.
“Dancing Star,” the album’s second single, serves as a vibrant tribute to ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev. With its upbeat production and catchy euphoric chorus, the song tells the story of Nureyev defecting from the Soviet Union to become a global star in the dance world. From the shimmering synths to the dance floor-ready beats, every element of the track is meticulously geared toward getting bodies in motion. 40 years on from the release of the original Bobby Orlando-produced version of “West End Girls,” it’s a testament to the Pet Shop Boys’ ability to craft queer dance-pop anthems that resonate with audiences across generations.
Throughout Nonetheless, Tennant and Lowe weave in lush orchestral arrangements, seamlessly blending those flourishes in on songs regardless of tempo. Tracks like “A new bohemia” and “The secret of happiness” benefit from the added orchestration, injecting the songs with a heaping dose of atmosphere and gravitas. Meanwhile, upbeat songs like “Bullet for Narcissus” and “Feel” showcase the strings in a way that lends a disco feel to the production.
One of the album’s standout moments is “New London Boy,” an ode to a teenage Neil Tennant moving to London in search of his tribe. Against a relatively sparse backdrop, Tennant tells a tale that vacillates between wide-eyed optimism for a new life in London among the glam rockers, glitterati, and stars, while grappling with the anxieties of trying to make it and dealing with homophobic skinheads. Fans of Tennant’s pseudo-rap delivery on Pet Shop Boys classics like “West End Girls” and “Left To My Own Devices” get to hear him deliver a mid-song rap breakdown on “New London Boy.”
As Nonetheless draws to a close with the dark and brooding “Love is the law,” it’s clear that the Pet Shop Boys have once again delivered a masterpiece that reaffirms their status as one of the most important queer acts in pop music. With its blend of thought-provoking lyrics, earworm melodies, and pulsating rhythms, the album is already heralded as a highlight in the pair’s more recent discography. In an industry often dominated by the neverending search for youth, trends, and fleeting fame, the Pet Shop Boys continue to stand tall as pillars of electronic music, pushing boundaries and inspiring generations of musicians to come.
