After a few hit and miss albums of late (Nightlife & Release), the Pet Shop Boys return to form with Fundamental, and the stand out track is Minimal. Once listened all the way through, you immediately start thinking three things. Firstly, classic Pet Shop Boys. Secondly, the guitar is pure New Order. And the third is the strings that kick in at the end of the song...lifted it sounds straight from Papa Don't Preach by Madonna. Do I have any issues with any of that..No way. Even hearing the song live as I did at the Tower Of London, it's clear that this song has the lastability that some of their recent singles clearly will not have. Don't think about buying the single...make sure you do, and if you haven't bought the album, double your purchases and buy it, preferably the two disc edition with the sublime Fugitive, and then ask yourself, how did they make this a song they just added to a limited edition album....are they mad....or just on top of their game!
