Pet Shop Boys - Fundamental


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Label: Parlophone
Catalog#: 00946 362860 2 0
Format: 2 x CD, Limited Edition
Country:UK
Released:22 May 2006
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: House, Abstract, Euro House, Tech House, Synth-pop, Ballad
Credits: Artwork By [Cold Cathode Lighting] - A1 Designs
Artwork By [Design And Art Direction] - Farrow , Pet Shop Boys
Engineer [Additional] - Chris Waugh (tracks: 1-1 to 1-12, 2-2, 2-3, 2-5, 2-7, 2-8) , Delaina Sepko (tracks: 1-1 to 1-12, 2-2, 2-3, 2-5, 2-7, 2-8) , Jay Buju Blatch (tracks: 1-1 to 1-12, 2-2, 2-3, 2-5, 2-7, 2-8)
Engineer [Recording] - Robert Orton (tracks: 1-1 to 1-12, 2-2, 2-3, 2-5, 2-7, 2-8) , Tim Weidner (tracks: 1-1 to 1-12, 2-2, 2-3, 2-5, 2-7, 2-8)
Executive Producer - Pet Shop Boys
Mastered By - Tim Young , Tony Cousins
Other [Orchestral Contractor] - Isobel Griffiths Ltd.
Photography - John Ross
Producer - Trevor Horn (tracks: 1-1 to 1-12, 2-2, 2-3, 2-5, 2-7, 2-8)
Programmed By [Original Programming] - Pete Gleadall (tracks: 1-1 to 1-12 to 2-3, 2-5 to 2-8)
Recorded By [Additional Recording] - Rob Smith (3) (tracks: 1-1 to 1-12, 2-2, 2-3, 2-5, 2-7, 2-8) , Taz Mattar (tracks: 1-1 to 1-12, 2-2, 2-3, 2-5, 2-7, 2-8)
Recorded By [Lead Vocals] - Pete Gleadall (tracks: 1-1 to 1-5, 1-8, 1-9, 1-12 to 2-3, 2-5, 2-7, 2-8)
Written-By - Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe* (tracks: 1-1 to 1-4, 1-6 to 2-8)
Notes:Limited edition. Black jewel case with booklet, printed outer slipcase. Includes a bonus remix disc, titled Fundamentalism.
Rating: 4.11/5 (27 votes) Rate It
141 have this / 12 want this
3 for sale in the Discogs Marketplace

Tracklisting:

 Fundamental
1-1   Psychological (4:10)
    Arranged By, Conductor - Nick Ingman
  Backing Vocals - Alanna Tavernier , Laura Edwards (2)
  Bass - Patrick Lannigan
  Harp - Skaila Kanga
  Keyboards [Additional] - Jamie Muhoberac , Pete Murray
  Vibraphone, Drums [Acoustic And Electric Drums] - Earl Harvin
1-2   The Sodom And Gomorrah Show (5:19)
    Arranged By [Brass, Orchestra], Conductor - Anne Dudley
  Backing Vocals - Emma Brain Gabbot , Helen Parker , Julia Doyle , Sarah Eyden , Tessa Niles
  Choir [Choir Master] - Jenny O'Grady
  Drums [Acoustic] - Cliff Hewitt
  Guitar - Lalo Creme , Phil Palmer , Steve Lipson*
  Guitar, Bass - Trevor Horn
  Harp - Lucinda Barry
  Keyboards [Additional] - Jamie Muhoberac
  Percussion - Frank Ricotti
  Programmed By [Additional], Keyboards [Additional] - Dave Clayton , Luca Baldini
  Vibraphone, Marimba, Drums [Acoustic And Electric Drums] - Earl Harvin
  Voice [Additional] - Oliver Pouliot
  Voice [Narrator] - Fred Applegate
1-3   I Made My Excuses And Left (4:53)
    Arranged By, Conductor - Nick Ingman
  Bass - Patrick Lannigan
  Bass, Drums [Acoustic And Electric Drums] - Earl Harvin
  Harp - Skaila Kanga
  Keyboards [Additional] - Jamie Muhoberac , Trevor Horn
1-4   Minimal (4:20)
    Acoustic Guitar - Lalo Creme
  Arranged By, Conductor - Nick Ingman
  Bass - Patrick Lannigan
  Guitar, Acoustic Guitar - Phil Palmer
  Harp - Lucinda Barry , Skaila Kanga
  Keyboards [Additional] - Pete Murray
  Keyboards [Additional], Bass - Jamie Muhoberac
  Vibraphone, Marimba, Drums [Acoustic And Electric Drums] - Earl Harvin
  Vocals [Additional], Bass - Trevor Horn
1-5   Numb (4:43)
    Arranged By, Conductor - Steve Sidwell
  Drums - Earl Harvin
  Engineer [Assistant] - Phil Tyremann
  Guitar, Acoustic Guitar - Tim Pierce
  Keyboards [Additional] - Jamie Muhoberac , Pete Murray
  Leader [Orchestra Leader] - Gavyn Wright
  Percussion - Louis Jardim*
  Written-By - Diane Warren
1-6   God Willing (1:17)
    Arranged By, Conductor - Nick Ingman
  Gutar, Bass - Trevor Horn
  Harp - Skaila Kanga
  Programmed By, Keyboards - Dave Clayton
1-7   Luna Park (5:31)
    Arranged By, Conductor - Nick Ingman
  Drums [Acoustic And Electric Drums] - Earl Harvin
  Drums [Electric Drums] - Cliff Hewitt
  Guitar - Phil Palmer
  Harp - Lucinda Barry , Skaila Kanga
  Keyboards [Additional] - Jamie Muhoberac , Simon Chamberlain
  Percussion - Frank Ricotti , Virgil Howe
  Programmed By [Additional], Keyboards [Additional] - Dave Clayton , Trevor Horn
  Recorded By [Lead Vocals], Shaker - Robert Orton
1-8   I'm With Stupid (3:24)
    Backing Vocals - Tessa Niles
  Drums [Electric Drums] - Cliff Hewitt , Earl Harvin
  Guitar - Phil Palmer
  Guitar, Acoustic Guitar - Lalo Creme
  Keyboards [Additional] - Jamie Muhoberac
1-9   Casanova In Hell (3:13)
    Arranged By, Conductor - Nick Ingman
  Backing Vocals - Debi Doss , Tessa Niles
  Backing Vocals, Harp - Lucinda Barry
  Drums [Acoustic Drums] - Cliff Hewitt
  Drums [Electric And Acoustic Drums] - Earl Harvin
  Guitar - Phil Palmer , Trevor Horn
  Harp - Lucinda Barry , Skaila Kanga
  Percussion - Frank Ricotti
  Programmed By [Additional], Keyboards [Additional] - Dave Clayton
1-10   Twentieth Century (4:39)
    Drums [Electric Drums] - Earl Harvin
  Guitar - Lalo Creme
  Guitar, Acoustic Guitar - Phil Palmer
  Keyboards [Additional] - Jamie Muhoberac , Pete Murray
  Recorded By [Lead Vocals] - Tim Weidner
1-11   Indefinite Leave To Remain (3:08)
    Arranged By [Brass, Orchestra], Conductor - Anne Dudley
  Drums [Acoustic And Electric Drums] - Earl Harvin
  Guitar - Trevor Horn
  Guitar, Acoustic Guitar - Phil Palmer
  Keyboards [Additional] - Jamie Muhoberac , Luca Baldini , Pete Murray
  Recorded By [Lead Vocals] - Robert Orton
1-12   Integral (3:53)
    Arranged By, Conductor - Nick Ingman
  Backing Vocals - Andy Caine , Bruce Woolley , Debi Doss , Lucinda Barry , Tessa Niles
  Drums [Acoustic And Electric Drums] - Earl Harvin
  Guitar - Lalo Creme , Steve Lipson* , Trevor Horn
  Harp - Skaila Kanga
  Keyboards [Additional] - Jamie Muhoberac
  Percussion - Cliff Hewitt , Frank Ricotti
 Fundamentalism
2-1   Fugitive (Richard X Extended Mix) (6:06)
    Engineer, Mixed By - Pete Hofmann
  Producer - Pet Shop Boys , Richard X
  Recorded By [Lead Vocals] - Richard X
2-2   Sodom (Trentemøller Remix) (7:24)
    Bass [Additional] - Mikael Simpson
  Producer [Additional Production], Remix, Performer [Additional Instrumentation] - Trentemøller
2-3   Psychological (Alter Ego Remix) (7:13)
    Remix, Producer [Additional Production] - Alter Ego
2-4   Flamboyant (Michael Mayer Kompakt Mix) (7:57)
    Producer [Remix Produced By] - Michael Mayer , Superpitcher
2-5   I'm With Stupid (Melnyk Heavy Petting Mix) (6:07)
    Remix, Producer [Additional Production] - Melnyk
2-6   In Private (Stuart Crichton Club Mix) (5:07)
    Mixed By - Pete Craigie , Stuart Crichton
  Producer - Pet Shop Boys , Stuart Crichton
  Vocals - Elton John
2-7   Minimal (Lobe Remix) (4:47)
    Remix, Producer [Additional Production] - Lobe
2-8   Gomorrah (Dettinger Remix) (5:39)
    Producer [Remix Produced By] - Dettinger
User Reviews:
ledjfab, Jun 06, 2006

"Fundamental" hits the store: I decided to buy this special edition (a "Very/Relentless" kind of release, but with major differences). The original album opens with "Psychological", a nice, dark electro track that was released on 12" a few months ago for the clubs.
To the listening of the rest of the CD, one get the point fast: if you are stuck in 1984, this might be the album of the year for you: go and get it. The 80s sounds are everywhere: even on the remix CD which features tracks youd thunk they where popular around 1985 (example: "Integral" is massively inspired by Dead Or Alives "Spin Me Round"). If you expect the poppy Eurohouse à la "Very" or their "Relentless" Technoïsh side on "Fundamental", you wont find it intact. I personally dont like synth pop much. The little I listen to from the Pet Shop Boys in that genre range from "Behaviour" to "Nightlife".
Highlights: The lyrics of Neil Tennant are well written (as always), even if I see some redundant elements and/or sentences (example: "Where angels fear to tread" in "The S Show" was previously heard in "Discoteca" on the album "Bilingual"). Melodically, the Boys are still performing very well in general.
The bad points: The rock touch is, still, awful. There are more ballads than what I have thought. Some are good, some arent. Some of the remixes are boring or just bad. Their collaboration with Elton John on "On Private" will probably be a big gay anthem. The trancey keyboards sounds à la Safri Duo are too much for me.
Depending of who you are and what you are listening to most often, you may like or dislike "Fundamental". Since I am not a "80s revival fan", this is not my cup of tea.

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Contributors to this data: onelittle, julesparis, JT_X, Mister.Marken, mjb