The release of Fundamental's third single Numb heralds an unprecedented flurry of Pet Shop Boys activity. Neil and Chris themselves are touring the USA, Canada and Mexico, while in the UK a book called Catalogue is released to commemorate 20 years of Pet Shop Boys' visuals, backed by an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. They're also releasing a live album, Concrete and collaborate with Robbie Williams on his seventh opus, Rudebox - which features a track called We're The Pet Shop Boys.
If what you expect from the duo is electropop of the Rent and Go West variety, Numb - like much of the parent album - will surprise. Written by Diane Warren and produced by Trevor Horn, the song opens with the sort of orchestral sweep and drumroll that would herald a hero's death on the silver screen. As dramatic openings go, this well sets the scene for what follows.
What does? An introspective number of hollow-sounding synth backing Neil's despondent vocals: "I don't want to feel this pain no more/Want to lose touch/I just want to go and lock the door/I don't want to think I don't want to feel nothing/I want to be numb." Later, piano and strings return to the fold, but for a single Numb is a challenge. Having shown their deep, thoughtful side, hopefully the next single will be Integral...
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