For a duo that have survived and sold well for fifteen years, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe may well be concerned that their reign as pop kingpins is coming to an end.
I996's Latino tinged 'Bilingual' album was not met with the public support that PSB are used to. Similarly, sales of 1999's House-influenced 'Nightlife' album have been relatively disappointing.
On the evidence of '……drunk', the third single culled from 'Nightlife', it is easy to see why PSB have become unfashionable.
Undeniably they still write solid pop tunes and this stylish affair is no different. Driven by the steel guitar of B.J. Cole (Richard Ashcroft collaborator) and backed with some tidy orchestration, it provides yet another example of Lowe's ear for a melody. Lyrically, Tennant deals with the crisis of relationships and the ups and downs of life, 'some doors are opened others have closed'
The problem with all this is that PSB have done it all before, there is nothing new here. In fifteen years of pop music, sounds and styles have changed, unfortunately PSB have not.
