NEW ALBUMS:

Introspective Pet Shop Boys (Parlophone)

An eclectic mix, Introspective is a veritable musical treat. The superbly frantic "Left to my own devices" starts the album with sweeping orchestral arrangements, swirling operatic voices and a disco feel that brings you right back to the Seventies. Percussion and various other sounds enter and leave as the song glides along. Also on the first side is the tongue-in-cheek "I want a Dog" and the Latin-styled "Domino Dancing", their current single.

The second side opens with a version of "I'm not scared" which is saturated with delightfully soothing strings and dripping synth sounds. "Always on my mind" has been stripped to the minimum which accentuates those soaring backing vocals. A new foot stomping bass line has been added, accompanied by light synth arrangements and the whole thing slides effortlessly into a brilliantly clever, semihouse number, "In my house". To finish it all of is the uptempo "It's alright" which has a wonderful gospel/blues feel.

Introspective is a thoroughly thoughtful album with the Pet Shop Boys breaking out of the essentially Euro/HiNRG/Electrobeat mould and drawing on a wider range of musical styles. The mixture of orchestral / acoustic instruments with electronic sounds has produced a more mature, sophisticated sound, especially on the new songs, which along with the excellent production has made for a highly polished album. And as usual it's packaged in a simple but highly stylised way.

Tim Pitt

MUSIC NEWS

Womack and Womack, currently doing very well in the charts with Teardrops, are due to play Dublin before Christmas. Should be a fab night for all soul sisters ........ Highlight of this month must be the Cork Jazz Festival, which, unfortunately clashes with THE Halloween Ball, running the weekend of the 28-31 October ......... Flikkers Halloween Ball takes place on the 30th October, a Sunday night, in the Irish Film Institute, Eustace St., Dublin. With DJ's coming over from London it should be a night to remember (so don't get too drunk.) ........ The new Pet Shop Boys' Album, Introspective, is now available. It features many new works, and radical re-works of older material, including their own version of I'm not scared ......... Current ones to watch in the better dance clubs: Can You Party, by Royal House, now an anthem in London, and We call t Aiceed, by D-Mob, now in the charts.

CORK HALLOWEEN PARTY

There will be a party in the Quay Co-Op, Sullivans Quay, Cork on Saturday the 29th October. Further information can be had by ringing the Co-Op on (021) 317660.