Back to Mine - Pet Shop Boys: Compiled By Pet Shop Boys

In this collection, one disc is done by Neil Tennant and the other is done by Chris Lowe. The collections are very different. Tennant's collection involves a lot of orchestrated music, not technically classical but classically oriented and inspired. Lowe's collection is very pop oriented, disco and hip hop. I recall an interview with Chris Lowe back in the 1980s in which he listed all the kinds of music that he didn't like - after a very long list, he laughed a bit and said 'I don't like much, do I. But what I love, I love passionately.' This interview clip was used on some edits of the song 'Paninaro'.

Both Pet Shop Boys pay tribute to Dusty Springfield, with whom they had a number one duet (top of the pops) in the mid 1980s, 'What Have I Done to Deserve This?' Even the differences in these two songs show some of the differences in their respective tastes. It is somewhat of a wonder that they were able to come together and produce music for as long (and at as high a quality) as they did - this was a good synthesis.

For those looking for new PSB music, this is not that kind of album. However, for those who are looking for a 'behind the scenes' take on influences and favourites, this is a great collection to have.


Slightly startling   June 6, 2005
 6 out of 7 found this review helpful

I'm a great fan of PSB, but I had never bought a Back To Mine compilation (although the Richard X one almost got me).

On first listen, Chris' cd was upbeat and immediate; Neil's was impenetrable.

This was all to change.

Neil's choices work extremely well as a late-night listen. And it's not iPod Shuffle friendly, as it works best as a continuous listen (I haven't had that welcome experience since The Avalanches' Since I Left You). His choices are superbly sequenced, with the inclusion of an Etienne Daho track being particulary lovely.

Chris' cd is far more clever than it seems. Am I the only one to get the delicious sequencing of the Celestial Choir's seemingly straightforward 'do not question the good Lord' disco-worship followed by Carl Bean's proto-gay 'Born This Way'?

The whole package is a delight. I'm on my third copy for friends. Get it.


Make sure you go back to the right house   May 18, 2005
 10 out of 13 found this review helpful

Two very different discs here, (the only common factor being a Dusty Springfield track) Chris Lowe's 'set' is a mix of pop and disco with a bit of modern Gospel thrown in, oh and a Queen song (the I find difficult to stomach 'The Show Must Go on') My favourite is the pumping dancefloor song about friendship that is 'Never be Alone' by Justice Vs Simian. If only it was sung by someone else, well... never mind. A soiree back at Chris's 'pad', I boldly imagine, would be a very lively affair with lots of glitter and pink(ness) and whooping and possibly even some shrieking.

Neil's selection is I think more interesting, partly because he has cheekily picked seventeen to Chris's ten, so I'll spend more time talking about it - a romantic, sweeping mixture of classical and ambient music designed apparently for 'the couple of hours before sleep'. That or death I'd say. When I was playing it yesterday, my neighbour came round half way through the Budd, Garcia and Lentz collaboration that is 'Pulse Pause Repeat', to see if I was alright. I live in a terraced house you see. I think she was expecting to find me slumped at my desk breathing heavily into a brown paper bag, bless her heart, and her little pot plants. I do like it though. Do not get me wrong (as they say)
In particular, Sospiri Op. 70 by Elgar is absolutely beautiful as is 'Come In!' by Vladimir Martynov. I am intrigued to know what it was written about that one. Some of the tracks are filmic in their mood. One imagines rain-sodden streets and lost love, footsteps...brandy being swilled in a glass. The slow piano number that is 'Promenade Sentimentale' is in fact from the flm 'Diva'. There's no -ic about it.

If ever you are having diffiulty sleeping, try listening to 'DD Rhodes' by the extraordinarily titled www.jz-arkh.co.uk. I picture whales with glazed eyes drifting to the bottom of the ocean. 'Video Kid' by Video Kid is rubbish. The majority of the rest (what a thing to say!) of this disc is lovely.

And to conclude, I would say that should you ever be in the enviable position of being offered an invite to 'one of the Pet Shop Boy's abodes, then depending on your mood do make sure that you check which one of them it belongs to rather than snatching it (would that it be in tangible form) away in a fit of starry-eyed eagerness. The taking of a nightcap and some light conversation could be spoilt by a loud airing of Mr Flagio's 'Take a Chance', and on the flipside, vigorously gyrating with one finger in the air is a little difficult to 'Lunz' by...Lunz. Enjoy.


Like the Pet Shop Boys, only it is!!!   May 15, 2005
 5 out of 7 found this review helpful

Brilliant! The both discs are wonderful, although they work better when you wake up with the Chris Lowe cd and chill out with the Neil Tennant. Not a duff track anywhere in the listing. Favourite stand out tracks are Celestial Choir on the Chris Lowe CD and Laura's Theme on the Neil Tennant CD. You can definitely pick out influences from these tracks in their studio productions.

I reckon you could play these CDs to a Pet Shop Boys fan without them knowing who'd selected the tracks and they probably say it sounded a bit Pet Shop Boysey!!

It's Hi Energy, It's Operatic, It's very Gay, and it's got a Queen track in it!!

Give it a go if you like PSB, you won't be disappointed


Chris stays true to his roots   May 11, 2005
 5 out of 8 found this review helpful

CD1 by Chris Lowe is a homage to his love of Italo-disco and 80's Hi-NRG. He has always rated this music & its great to see his taste has stayed true. I may be blinded by nostalgia here, but i also love Savage's "Don't Cry Tonight" which opens the CD. A brilliantly melancholic slice of Italo -amazing when all done on 8 track with synths. Equally brillaint is "Ti Sento" by Matia Bazaar. I remember joyfully bopping to this every Thursday at the Powerhouse in B'ham in the mid-80's! Often we just got to hear just 1 or 2 of these Italo songs which would cross-over every Sept. at the end of our Mediterranean Summer holidays, but its a brilliant era (inspite of the dodgy vocals.
Also love his inclusion of "Passion" by the Flirts, a great HiNRG outing c/o Bobby O which still sound fresh IMO.
As for Neil's effort...no thanks!