Pet Shop Boys – Left To My Own Devices

When it comes to fusing brilliant compositions with satirical lyrics into an electronic combustion for dancefloor consumption, nobody tops the Pet Shop Boys. During their still-going 20 year career as the foremost in commercial electronica, the duo's status as the best of the best has never been rivalled. Like many of the greatest artists in history, they possess an immeditately recognisable sound but with the twist that they always manage to sound completely up-to-date with their current projects. The seemingly simple choice of adopting the asistance of the hottest contemporary producers enhances their status as extremely astute musicians with great ears for innovative sounds.

'Left to My Own Devices' is a track worthy of reference. This gem from 1988 utilised the studio wizadry of legendary producer Trevor Horne. Horne is notorious for spending months (and money) to complete a single record. His techniques were unorthodox, to say the least. For the string section of 'Devices', he opted to use a real orchestra to construct the piece then, in turn, used that piece as a base to construct the same notes on a synthesiser. Whether or not the final result is of greater effect really depends on your technical knowledge and your tolerance for infamous perfectionists. Overall, the entire track is a wonderful piece of "symphonic disco". It contains all the drama, energy and wit any typical PSB track should have.