Through it all, Tennant and Lowe feel as confident and progressive as ever, honoring their signature sound while continuing to push it into the future.
‘Hotspot’ rounds things off with a lovingly crafted variety pick and mix of all the flavours that keep Pet Shop Boys at the top of their game.
You sense this album is intended as an expression of hope for the future, rather than a fond look back.
Hotspot is just another jewel in the already-sizeable crown of Britain’s greatest ever pop band, and will only grow in power over time.
The Pet Shop Boys enter the new decade sounding just as current and catchy as the pop landscape they helped construct.
There’s no jolting shock-of-the-new: they’re just reassuringly here, refining what they do best.
With so many new artists popping up on the scene daily, it is refreshing to see our elder statesmen delivering music that remains true to their core, but still finding a freshness in the most organic, unforced way.
Hotspot consistently points to potential joy amid a backdrop of dread.
Hotspot shows a creative force that’s still curious, still with things to say.
Fans will find much to enjoy here, but Hotspot is best viewed as a victory lap.
They create music with expert flair and ever-present skill. Their songs are a relevant comment on human emotion, and current affairs, with a banging, happy sound.
There are still more than enough highlights on Hotspot to make the record worthwhile, and when they put their mind to it Tennant and Lowe’s wordsmithery is still as sharp as ever.
Despite its flaws, Hotspot deserves its place on the upper shelf of Pet Shop Boys’ discography.
The album’s highs are high enough to further prove that the duo has had the most consistent career of any of their synth-pop peers. But their best play will likely be to move beyond the Stuart Price era and pump some fresh blood into their creative veins.
On their 14th studio album, the best-selling duo in UK pop dampen the euphoria; the result is a tuneful, wan album that lands somewhere in the middle of their rich catalogue.
Despite all the biting character sketches and evergreen dancefloor nous in evidence, Hotspot has its cooler passages.
For all the bizarre choices and sidesteps made on Hotspot, Pet Shop Boys live up to their own adage of never being boring.
On Hotspot, their latest, the duo remain steadfast to that commitment with creamy, dancefloor-ready techno —joyously documenting the anticipation before a night out.
#8 | / | Albumism |