Since rave music the ethos in clubs has been very inclusive, which is a powerful thing but electroclash is outsider music not insider. Its for people who want to be different and that makes a refreshing change these days.
Chatting to DJ Magazine some months ago Pet Shop Boys singer Neil Tennant was typically enthusiastic about Londons latest underground club scene, reflecting both their own high profile presence at spots like Nag and The Cock as well as the Pet Shop Boys continuing influence as the worlds most successful electronic band ever. Because ever since West End Girls topped UK (then later US) charts in 1986, theyve remained at the top of the pop and club games, via their radio friendly pop hits and life spent living on the front line of club culture.
Teaming up as a band in 1982, the pair first released West End Girls in 1984, achieving massive dance floor success in France, Belgium and California while failing completely in the UK. Bolstered by their overseas acclaim, Tennant and his secretive sideman Chris Lowe persevered, signing to EMI in 1986 to score one of the biggest pop hits of the year, when West End Girls was released (with a new Stephen Hague ultra-atmospheric production). Presumably spotting a winning formula, the pair went on to release scores of pop/ club smashes, rarely deviating from a template of hook laden, accessible electronic pop music coupled with intelligent, thought-provoking adult lyrics and 20 years on DJ Hell has wisely kept the basic approach. Instead, hes reworked the originals beat, picking it up and mixing it up just a little, to provide a new lease of life on todays (electroclash) dance floors.
Hells mix of Flamboyant, on the other hand, seems more deliberately electro, with disco hand claps, space age sound effects and a pure electroclash style keyboard riff pushing out most of the originals pop elements, in suitably appropriate way. Release date is March 29th, with both mixes available on 12 vinyl via the Pet Shop Boys website.
Chris Lowe chatted to Skrufff this week and in a break from tradition, opened up about his political beliefs, revealing hes thoroughly fed up with mainstream politics in Britain.
On important issues such as genetically modified food, it doesnt seem that theres any party you can vote for, Chris complained.
The Government do a survey which reveals that 90% of the public dont want it, but then they go ahead with their plans anyway. And then theres the War on Iraq, he added.
The hugely successful disco-electro producer and signed-up Greenpeace supporter also admitted hed gone on last years million strong anti Iraq war demonstration in London though revealed he usually censors himself in interviews.
I dont like it when pop stars get involved in politics because then you think God, I hate them, they think theyre so this and that, he said.
But I also I think its terrible not to have any faith in your leaders, and I havent got any in ours. When you cant trust your Prime Minister what kind of country are you living in?
The Pet Shop Boys new single Flamboyant is out on March 29 on Parlophone/ EMI.
Flamboyant (DJ Hell Remix) 2. Flamboyant (Scissor Sisters Silhouettes And Shadows Mix) 3. West End Girls (DJ Hell Remix) £4.99 vinyl)rn
