The Pet Shop Boys are set to open 2020 in style with a new album, as the legendary British synth-pop duo teamed up with the likes of Bernard Butler of Suede for their January release of “Hotspot.” Other notable collaborations on the eagerly anticipated 14th studio album by the popular pop music veterans included Years & Years’ lead singer Olly Alexander, who lent his vocal talents to the track “Dreamland” that was showcased at the Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park event back in September last year.
Butler collaborated with the somewhat unconventional duo on the track “Burning the Heather,” as the former Suede guitarist and award-winning producer added his progressive but delicate acoustic guitar work to the emotive and wistful ballad.
“Burning the Heather” was the second single to be released from the new album after “Dreamland”, with the more uplifting and ‘groovy’ third single “Monkey Business” expected to be released in early February.
Busy period for Pet Shop Boys
It promises to be a busy period for the sprightly London-formed pairing of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, whose formidable musical partnership has blossomed into one of the UK’s best-selling and enduring exports, and who can boast more than 40 top thirty singles and four UK number ones. They already have several concert dates scheduled in late Spring and into the summer in 2020, in arenas across both the UK and the rest of Europe on their “Dreamworld: The Greatest Hits Live” tour.
The tour kicks off with a show at London’s O2 Arena on May 28th, before stopping off at venues in such as Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, and Glasgow amongst others across the UK during May and June.
Commercial success for the band
Since their early days back in the 1980s, the three-time Brit Award winners have achieved massive global commercial success, including chart hits both in the UK and the US and multi-million record sales worldwide.
Memorable tracks such as “West End Girls” and their catchy re-working of the Elvis Presley song “Always on My Mind” – which they reprised with The Killers on stage at last year’s Glastonbury festival – typified the spirit of the 80s Music scene.
Relocated to Hansa Studios
“Hotspot” was mostly recorded at the famous Hansa studios in Berlin (although “Burning the Heather” was recorded in London at RAK Studios) and went on general release in the UK on 24th January.
Situated close to the site of the former Berlin Wall, the Hansa Tonstudio has welcomed many of the world’s top music acts through its doors in the past, with the likes of David Bowie, U2 (“Achtung Baby”) and Manic Street Preachers all drawing on the inspiration of its surroundings to develop their musical output in the past.
