Synth-pop veterans the Pet Shop Boys and Erasure are readying new albums for release in the spring. First up will be Erasure’s “Union Street,” which is due April 3 internationally via Mute, with a North American street date yet to be confirmed. The Pet Shop Boys will follow on April 17 with the Parlophone set “Fundamental.”
For Erasure, “Union Street” will feature 11 of the act’s older songs recast in a country or acoustic setting. The set will sport new versions of “Piano Song,” “Home,” “Boy,” “How Many Times” and “Love Affair,” among others.
On Erasure’s Web site, singer Andy Bell said the album was intended “to show the songs in a different light, and show that they could work on whatever instrument, synthesizer or guitars.”
Group member Vince Clarke added that Erasure is hoping to tour in support of “Union Street” with the help of musicians playing banjo, pedal steel guitar and other traditional instruments.
The Pet Shop Boys’ “Fundamental” was produced by Trevor Horn and will be preceded by the single “Minimal.” It will also feature the Diane Warren-penned “Numb,” originally recorded for the 2003 compilation “PopArt.”
“Fundamental” is the Pet Shop Boys’ first studio album since 2002’s “Release,” which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Electronic Albums chart.
