TENNANT/LOWE - BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN

This is an interesting CD. Tennant and Lowe are better known to the world at large as The Pet Shop Boys. How they came to be involved in this project is explained in detail in the cd booklet. But for those of you who are curious now, let me give you an edited version of the story. Basically, this film about a group of sailors who mutiny on a battleship. It was created during the silent film era. During it's initial screenings, it was shown with classical pieces by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and others playing in the background. An English Contemporary Art Director approached Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe with the idea of writing an updated score for the piece and showing it again to a modern audience. Needless to say, the two accepted and decided to write the music in the sequence it would appear in the film as well as combining electronic music with orchestration. Torsten Rosch was asked to orchestrate the songs after the duo were finished. Finally, on September 12, 2004 the film was shown in London's Trafalgar Square. The live music performance took place while the film was projected on a screen above to more than 20,000 spectators.

That's almost taken word for word from the booklet. More or less. But it doesn't describe my feelings. I've been a fan of The Pet Shop Boys for many years now and I was interested in hearing this work when I learned of it's existence. I immediately bought it. I was surprised when I listened to it. I have to admit, when it comes to certain groups, I do develop expectations and even though the sound is very PSB, it's different enough to make you sit back and think, "What the...????"

The music incorporates a very ambient electronic sound. Don't bother looking for looping drum patterns or danceable beats here. They took the challenge of writing music for this project extremely literally and have composed and developed sounds around the drama of the screen rather than the internal drama of the worlds they normally create in their songs. Make no mistake, this is music created entirely to enhance a visual experience.

With a finite amount of time and a highly specific goal in mind, the Pet Shop Boys have risen to the challenge in excellent form. The music certainly shows these men are more than simple pop musicians. There's a great deal of complexity and strength in the orchestral numbers and those more heavily rooted in electronic. 'Battleship Potemkin''s one energetic number is the often creepy and intense track simply entitled, 'Nyet' (Russian for "no"). Other songs incorporate techno rhythms, but none to the same extent. Even with the electronic feel, the disc maintains it's integrity. The fusion between the orchestration and the beat is beautifully created. There's a flawless harmony happening here.

Even though it is highly specific music with exact intention and purpose, it holds up on its own if you listen to it. I've cruised around in the truck playing it now and again. I like the attention it gets at stop lights. It's a sophisticated blend of sound both beautiful and rhythmic.

Somehow, Tennant and Lowe have created a brilliant composition for a stark and dismal film. My final word is great! It's enjoyable, excellent in purpose and on its own. Well worth the money if you can track it down. The boys delivered with this one. My final words: BRILLIANT DELIVERY.

TENNANT/LOWE - BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN
01. 'Comrades!'
02. Men And Maggots
03. Our Daily Bread
04. Drama In The Harbour
05. Nyet
06. To The Shore
07. Odessa
08. No Time For Tears
09. To The Battleship
10. After All (The Odessa Staircase)
11. Stormy Meetings
12. Night Falls
13. Full Steam Ahead
14. The Squadron
15. For Freedom