With news that Pet Shop Boys are talking to producers about their upcoming effort, I thought I’d take a moment to play “armchair producer” and point out four talents whom I think would be exceptionally suited for the duo’s sound.

1. Trentmøller - The Danish producer’s two studio efforts and excellent rerub of “The Sodom and Gomorrah show” highlight his ability to pull emotion out of the most minimal of sounds. If Pet Shop Boys were to produce an album along the lines of the “electro record” that Fundamental was slated to be before Trevor Horn’s involvement, then he could bring out the best from Lowe’s demos. I’d be interested to hear his treatment of Tennant’s vocals, as well.

2. M.A.N.D.Y. - I’ve recently become very obsessed with the two heads of Get Physical records and the sound they’ve pushed forward. Electro house that’s unafraid of emotion and release, creative sounds and arrangements that are aimed directly at the dancefloor as well as the cerebellum, they could certainly hold the Tennant and Lowe sound high. (This would also mean that there’d be an increased chance of a mix by Booka Shade, my favorite semi-recent dance music discovery.)

3. Ewan Pearson - Have you heard his Disco Odyssey mix of Goldfrapp’s “Ride A White Horse?” No? Here’s a nine-minute video edit of the 15-minute-long masterpiece. Between that track and the other mixes that fill out Piece Work (including his take on Tennant and Lowe’s “Psychological,”) it’s hard to deny that he’d be able to take Pet Shop Boys into an ecstatic, modern direction that still has the pop hooks that have served them so well.

4. Gui Boratto - Another minimalist, Boratto’s ability to create anthemic moments from spare, elegant melodies and simple 4/4 beats shows that he has the chops to take the barest bones and create something much, much greater. I’d be very interested to hear what he’d do when given the full, lush demos that Pet Shop Boys have been producing over the last few albums.

From the official site:

Chris and Neil have been writing new songs for much of this year and will continue until they feel they have enough songs for a new album. The writing sessions have proved very fertile with, so far, seven new songs being completed. Some of the songs they wrote early last year are also likely to feature on the album. Meetings with potential producers are already being lined up for March. The release date for the new album will probably be early 2009.

Pet Shop Boys have also been sketching musical ideas for their ballet which is still under discussion with Sadlers Wells theatre in London.

From the official site:

The latest issue of Literally, the exclusive magazine sent to all members of the Pet Shop Boys Club, is in production now and should be dispatched by the end of the month. Contents of this bumper 44-page issue include Neil and Chris’s tribute to Dainton, a full report of the last date of the Fundamental world tour in Bucharest and an interview with Neil Tennant, as well as news, letters and exclusive photos.

From the official site:

Dainton Connell was killed in a car accident in Moscow in the early of this morning. He was in Moscow accompanying Chris Lowe who was planning to DJ at a friend’s nightclub there tonight. The friend driving him lost control of the car. There was no one else in the car.

Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant are “devastated” by this tragic news. They had known Dainton for almost 20 years, during which time he had worked for Pet Shop Boys as security and later as personal assistant. He was also a close friend.

“Dainton was a warm, kind, loveable friend, a huge Arsenal fan and a larger-than-life character, famous in North London and beyond. We are devastated by his sudden and tragic death and our thoughts and condolences are with his wife, Mandy, and their family.”

Dainton (also known as “The Bear”) accompanied Pet Shop Boys on their tours from 1989 to 2000. He can be seen in the videos for Pet Shop Boys’ singles, “So hard” and “Was it worth it?” as well as in the Somewhere concert film. We know that he was a familiar and friendly face to many PSB fans who encountered him over the years and that they will share in our grief and sorrow. Those who met him will never forget him.

I met Dainton briefly during the Nightlife tour and the impression I got of him closely aligns with the above release. He struck me as being funny, warm, and willing to take the piss out of himself as quickly as anyone else while maintaining his cool and dealing with the sort of overzealous fans that caused me to retreat fairly quickly from the premises.

Here’s the video for “Was it worth it?”. Even if you’re not familiar with Dainton’s appearance, you’ll know him the second you see him.

From the official site:

Regrettably, due to unforeseen logistical issues, the Pet Shop Boys have been forced to cancel their previously announced September 27th Hollywood Bowl performance. Refunds will be available at point of purchase. Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe would like to apologise to all ticket-holders for any disappointment and inconvenience caused.