We wanted to write ‘The Pet Shop Boys are Back’ when we realized that have never been away. As Brit gay men they have been part of our own  soundtrack since the early 80’s .  Its not because of the heady heights their music has taken them (they have sold more than 50 million records worldwide, and were listed as the most successful duo in UK music history in the 1999 edition of The Guinness Book of Records.)  but its more that their music has grown with them ….. and us ….. over the years.

Just like  “A New Bohemia’ from their latest LP Nonetheless, which they’ve dubbed their “queer album.” Inspired by the ‘70s queer artist and activist group Les Petites Bon-Bons, the new song has a distinctly ‘70s folk-rock flair.  For the video they worked with the multi-award winning queer filmmaker Andrew Haigh (Weekend and Al Us Strangers) who in turn reunited with Brit hearthrob actor Russell Tovey (Looking).  

The video starts with Tovey skating by himself around a roller disco rink. It then cuts to the Pet Shop Boys singing on a beach before wandering around an old school roller disco where Tovey works. Things take a sexy turn when Tovey moves onto the roller rink, where he dances and gets hot and heavy while making out with another man.

The Pet Shop Boys dropped Nonetheless on April 26, and have since released a very gay music video for the album’s first single, “Loneliness,” and one for “Dancing Star,” which features historical footage of gay ballet star Rudolf Nureyev.

Sharp eared  listeners will have spotted that Haigh also included the Pet Shop Boys’ cover of Brenda Lee’s “Always on My Mind” in his film All of Us Strangers.