Pet Shop Boys — Fundamental

Now that they're entering the third decade of their recording career, the Pet Shop Boys have almost run out of variations on the disco-pop sound that first brought them to prominence in the mid-'80s. But although the musical foundation remains the same, Fundamental is still an interesting listen for what it reveals about the Boys' frame of mind as they navigate middle age. There's an air of wistful melancholy that pervades this record, a vague sense of loss and longing that, combined with Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe's reliably engaging melodies, makes this one of the more touching releases in their discography. Even synth-driven dance tracks like "The Sodom And Gomorrah Show" and "Integral" are coloured by the same lovely gloom that characterizes ballads like "Numb." It takes a couple of listens to locate the subtleties that make Fundamental different from previous efforts, but once they emerge it becomes clear that the Boys are aging with grace.

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