Timeless synth-pop - A review of Pet Shop Boys' Inner Sanctum

Pet Shop Boys is a British synth-pop duo that has been around for nearly four decades now and the group's timeless music sounds as fresh today as it did during the band's peak in the late eighties and early nineties which is something even the Queen of Pop Madonna and the King of Pop Michael Jackson couldn't accomplish. I watched excerpts from this particular concert on New Year's Eve on German television and was impressed by the colourful set decorations, vivid visual displays and great fan interaction. The final result features a concert recorded at the Royal Opera House in London close to a length of two hours plus bonus footage from Rock in Rio. The only negative thing that should be mentioned is that the set lists of both shows are quite similar and that it would have made more sense to release a concert from a previous tour as additional gimmick.

Other than that, the concert leaves nothing to be desired. The duo performs energetically, the fans participate frenetically and the set list covers the band's most recent successes as well as some of its numerous classics from the early days. Personally, my favourite song of the band in form of the haunting ''Suburbia'' is missing here but the selection is still satisfactory. New tracks such as the atmospheric opener ''Inner Sanctum'' and the danceable ''The Pop Kids'' show the band's diversified soundscapes. Classics such as the anthemic epic ''It's a Sin'' and the melodically melancholic ''Always on My Mind'' haven't lost any of their charm.

Thirty-two years after the release of the band's impressive debut Please and two years after the groups latest output Super, Inner Sanctum proves that this band is still relevant and not only worth to be rediscovered by fans of old age but also to be appreciated by younger generations. The duo is still one of the most talented pop groups with a charismatic androgynous lead singer and a cool and talented keyboardist. Enjoy this timeless synth-pop to dance, dream and sing along and grab this package combining BluRay, DVD and double-disc experience for your eyes and ears.

Final rating: 90%