Pet Shop Boys - Say It To Me (2016) Maxi-Single

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Pet Shop Boys - Say It To Me (2016) Maxi-Single

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'Say It To Me' will be available digitally and on CD single and 12" vinyl. It includes two brand new bonus tracks, "A cloud in a box" and "The dead can dance", and remixes by Stuart Price, Real Lies, Tom Demac and Offer Nissim. In addition, the CD single includes the remix of "Inner Sanctum" by Carl Craig, previously only available on download and limited edition vinyl.

The 3rd "proper" single from Pet Shop Boys' Super album, this good value CD single runs to just over 21 minutes and five tracks. Say it to me might not on face value be the most obvious choice for a single based on the album version but the new radio mix redresses that misconception. Shorted for radio and slightly beefed up in the bass line, particularly towards the end, this really does now sound radio friendly based on Radio 2 spins. Lyrically it deals with a misfiring relationship where one partner wants something more but isn't forthcoming about communicating exactly what, leaving the other partner confused. "Tell me what you want from me" sings Neil, taking the role of the simpler soul in this relationship.

Pet Shop Boys singles are a rich hunting ground for fans, with some of their very best work appearing as bonus tracks or b-sides in old money. A cloud in a box is a thumping techno style instrumental to begin with, before taking a remarkable left turn. Suddenly the music drops away to a minimalistic backing, and Neil 'sing-speaks' a delightful, childlike nonsense poem in time to the music in a style very reminiscent of Left to my own devices. It concerns childlike wonder at a magician's trick, the eponymous cloud in a box. Once Neil has recited the poem the thumping techno briefly reappears to conclude the track. It's a great b side and stylistically daring, reminding me of their own Night Song, contributed to the 'My Dad's A Birdman' musical which is also childlike and full of wonderful nonsense verse.

The dead can dance is also a thumper, starting with a piano motive and a staccato drum pattern, the subject matter is another of Neil's songs based on real life, and on Russian history which is a recurring theme in PSB's output. Here it is relatives locked up by an oppressive Stalinist regime long believed dead but released to return home after that oppression eased - to the shock of family and friends. Neil's lyrics deal with that stopped-dead-in-your-tracks feeling of seeing that missing relative for the first time. Whilst the backing track is repetitive it uses the classical 'Theme and variation' device to change the emphasis of the song - and cleverly the impact of the words in an almost cinematic style. Another winner in an era producing some magical bonus tracks.

Say it to me (Stuart Price alternative mix) slows the beat of the original somewhat. Its no longer a fast-paced dance track, though it retains the euphoric style keyboards of the album version, it's now mid-paced. There's not really a great deal different going on in relation to the album version but it's intriguing to hear it taken more leisurely.

Inner Sanctum (Carl Craig c2 Juiced RMX) was originally released on the Inner Sanctum souvenir 12" single and this is its first appearance on CD. It stretches the track nicely, adding a new bass synth line and a breakdown around the 'who you are' section of the lyrics, which are fully retained in all their minimal glory. It's a good dance version of the track.

All in all another fine PSB release, well worth it for fans with the two b sides keeping up the tradition of top drawer tracks appearing as b sides.

Review by D J F, Amazon.co.uk

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Pet Shop Boys - Say It To Me (2016) Maxi-Single

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Pet Shop Boys - Say It To Me (2016) Maxi-Single

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Pet Shop Boys - Say It To Me (2016) Maxi-Single

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