Pet Shop Boys release their tenth studio album “Yes” in the US on April 21 on Astralwerks

March 7, 2009 by Dennis Amith 

One of the most iconic and influential pop acts in the world, Pet Shop Boys return with their tenth album and first for Astralwerks on April 21, 2009. In a career spanning over 2 decades, the duo of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe have created some of the most beloved and recognizable hits in the world (West End girls, It’s a sin, New York City Boy, etc.), and sold over 30 million records. They’ve worked with artists like Dusty Springfield, David Bowie, Liza Minnelli, Robbie Williams, Electronic, The Killers and Madonna. In the USA, Pet Shop Boys are the fourth most successful artist in the history of the Billboard dance charts (behind Madonna, Donna Summer and Janet Jackson).

Filled with sparkling state of the art pop songs, Yes is an affirmation of the duo’s knack for mixing innovative artistry with exuberant commercial appeal. Produced by the acclaimed Xenomania (Girls Aloud, Sugababes, Cher, Kylie Minogue, Saint Etienne), the album features guitar work by ex-Smith Johnny Marr and orchestral arrangements by Owen Pallett (Last Shadow Puppets, Final Fantasy).

Never far from the public eye, Pet Shop Boys have been very busy lately: producing a #1 UK dance hit for Sam Taylor-Wood (released on the ultra-hip Kompakt label), remixing a track for Lady GaGa and co-writing the hit UK single The Loving Kind for Girls Aloud. They are also working on a ballet, and were honored with the Outstanding Contribution to Music award at the Brit Awards last month. You can check out their performance here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OAlTWrNN6o

“We can’t seem to remember how we came up with the title Yes,” says Neil. “Our official story is that we may have taken it from the famous Yoko Ono exhibition in 1967 where you had to climb up a step ladder – as John Lennon famously did – pick up a magnifying glass, look at a tiny word written on the ceiling, and the word was ‘yes’. I think it partly came from that.” (Chris adds: “We thought No was a bit negative.”)
Tracklisting:
Love etc*
All over the world
Beautiful people
Did you see me coming?
Vulnerable
More than a dream*
Building a wall
King of Rome
Pandemonium
The way it used to be*
Legacy

* written by Tennant/Lowe/Xenomania
The release of Yes will be preceded by the single “Love etc”. Pet Shop Boys describe the song as “a post-lifestyle anthem which sounds like nothing we’ve done before.” See the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InBiaRBUjUs

There will also be a limited edition version of the album featuring a bonus disc with ‘This used to be the future’ an exclusive track featuring Phil Oakey (Human League) and 6 dub mixes produced by Xenomania (‘More than a dream’, Pandemonium’, ‘The way it used to be’, ‘All over the world’, ‘Vulnerable’, ‘Love etc.’).