Very. A blog about Pet Shop Boys.

To be forthright, I should note that I’ve actually had an audio rip of Cubism since the UK version of the DVD came out a few months ago. Yes, I’m that sort of fan. However, the Pet Shop Boys have consistently (with the exclusion of the dreary Release tour) provided fans with a stage show that is at the very least impressive and at its peak, simply stunning. The duo’s tour for Fundamental follows this methodology with a minimal opening that unfolds (much like the titular cube) into a full-bore pop extravaganza as the show progresses.

As I’d seen the show relatively recently, I was expecting to be a bit disappointed by the presentation. With Tennant, Lowe, three backup singers (including Sylvia Mason-James, who I adore,) and two dancers, it seems like it’d be more than difficult to manage to shrink it down to a home-theater-friendly format. However, director David Barnard does a exemplary job capturing this highly stylized show, with multiple cameras managing to record all the action in a bright, sharp picture. I was especially pleased to see that the high-key colors like Lowe’s lime-green hoodie were captured vibrantly, as those can be a bit of a bear for any photographer to nail down. The editing on this DVD is of particular note: Barnard and crew know just when to jump to the next element of the show and they manage to give Lowe his due¹, unlike previous concert recordings. The sound is also remarkable, showing off the quieter parts nicely while making sure the big moments have the impact they deserve.

Unsurprisingly, the set list for this show is near-perfect, doing exactly what it was intended to do: combine the requisite hits from the band’s back catalog and newer material in a pleasing synthesis that flows well over the course of two hours or so (including intermission.) Sure, I could declare my personal tastes the rule, nitpick and say that an additional track or two from Fundamental would not have been unwelcome; “Indefinite leave to remain” or “Luna Park” could have replaced “Dreaming of the queen” quite handily. I’m still not a fan of “Numb” despite the beautiful staging for the song. Its Diane Warren-penned “wannas” make Tennant sound remarkably less intelligent than the norm.

Cubism is easily the equal of the Performance recording as far as the representation of what was on stage, and it handily bests the other recent-ish concert DVD, Montage, a visually messy, flawed mess that’s much more listenable than watchable. I’d recommended a viewing of Cubism to even the most casual fans, as it’s a well-curated hits package that looks and sounds excellent while doing a fine job of making a twenty-five year-old songwriting partnership seem more relevant than ever.

¹ To be fair, it doesn’t hurt that Lowe actually appears to be playing major portions of the music instead of half-heartedly slapping chords.