After they called out Drake's unauthorized use of "West End Girls" on For All the Dogs last year, synthpop legends Pet Shop Boys are doing as the English do: keeping calm and carrying on. They've announced a nonchalantly titled new album, led by the single "Loneliness."
Nonetheless arrives via Parlophone Records — the label through which the duo released the records of their heyday, from 1985 to 2012 — on April 26. Produced by James Ford, it follows 2020's Hotspot.
"It was great to work with James Ford, who we think has brought new elements to our music," Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe said in a release. "James has dared to make us a bit more minimal at times and the final result is a record we’re very proud of.”
They continued, “We wanted this album to be a celebration of the unique and diverse emotions that make us human. From the more dance-orientated tracks to the raw poignancy of the introspective ballads, with their beautiful string arrangements, each track tells a story and contributes to the overall narrative of the album.”
Despite the claims of minimalism, an orchestra was used on every single Nonetheless track, including "Loneliness" — an opulent-sounding, disco-inspired pulsating cut about social isolation. You can check out the kind of NSFW music video, and the album tracklist, below.
Nonetheless:
1. Loneliness
2. Feel
3. Why Am I Dancing?
4. New London Boy
5. Dancing Star
6. A New Bohemia
7. The Schlager Hit Parade
8. The Secret of Happiness
9. Bullet for Narcissus
10. Love Is the Law