arjanwrites.com

Pet Shop Boys released a special message for their U.S. fans on their web site last week. "We would like to inform American Petheads that the USA release of "Fundamental" is under advanced discussion at the moment," writes the duo. "We're hoping that it will be released in the USA on the same date as the rest of the world. It is planned that Pet Shop Boys' world tour will begin in North America (Canada/USA/Mexico) in October."

The reports I have received from London for weeks now have finally been confirmed. EMI has been extremely tight-lipped about the U.S. release date of PSB's much-anticipated new album. Reasons for a push-back may include the global demand for the band, an unfinished US tour schedule or possibly the music itself.

According to an EMI rep, the duo went back into the studio to continue working on the record even though full-length advances of "Fundamental" were already distributed earlier this year. The buzz  for the album has been strong, but it might have been that some tweaking was needed to satisfy the market. Additional studio time might also have been necessary to record B-sides or U.S. specific bonus tracks.

In any event, I'm hoping EMI is not making the same mistake that Mute made with Goldfrapp's "Supernature" that was released months after the European release. It sucked the life right of the momentum that the band had going, and I even dare to argue that it has spoiled a big, fat debut for Goldfrapp in the U.S..