The "Back to Mine" series features remixes by well-known dance artists and/or remixers. Often the remixes are of somewhat obscure music to which the featured artist would like to attract attention. A number of amazing musicians have participated in this series, including New Order and Everything But the Girl. For years, there have been rumors that Pet Shop Boys would contribute; the wait is finally over. Furthermore, Chris and Neil have both contributed separate disks that reflect their individual music tastes. Neither of the disks sound radically remixed; they're both more like a mix tape.

Chris' disk is definitely more dance-oriented. Borrowing from the lyrics of their hit "Paninaro," Chris says that he selected songs about "Love. Friendship. Sex. Religion. Hope. And Despair." Ultimately, the disk is like an excursion through dark European nightclubs - the grimy underbelly of dance. I don't typically list each song on a CD in reviews, but because the listing here doesn't even include the artist names, I will.

1) Don't Cry Tonight by Savage - a terrific, propulsive Italo-Disco track from circa 1983; the group is actually Roberto Zanetti.

2) Take a Chance by Mr Flagio - another early 80s Italian dance track with nice robotic vocal effects; reminds me of early PSB with Bobby Orlando.

3) Dirty Talk by Klein & MBO - a mid-80s Italian song with female vocals produced by Tony Carrasco, a Latin dance music producer; a rather cheesy song but still fun.

4) Passion by The Flirts - a product of Bobby Orlando from the mid-80s; perhaps the best instrumental backing of any song on this disk; in fact, the lyrics don't kick in for almost 5 minutes!

5) Ti Sento by Matia Bazaar - can't find much info about this 80s Italian female dance artist

6) Never Be Alone by Justice Vs Simian - Justice is a French duo; this song is very upbeat with nice lyrics; one of my favorites on Chris' disk, also the most recent selection - circa 2003.

7) The Show Must Go On by Queen - peaked at #16 on the UK chart in 1991; not a great Queen track but an interesting bridge between the dance-oriented first half of Chris' disk.

8) Stand on the Word by Celestial Choir - without doubt, my favorite track on either disk; I can't find much info about the group, but it sounds like a typical choir of English boys, put to a dance beat; the lyrics ("We must not question the good Lord.") also make an interesting segue to the next song.

9) I Was Born this Way by Carl Bean - a gay disco classic from 1977 released on the Motown label; sounds like Al Green singing a Village People song - in a good way; Bean later founded Unity Fellowship Church and several AIDS organizations.

10) I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love by Dusty Springfield - the only ballad on Chris' collection; a rather odd ending to the disk but a very pretty song from 1978.

Neil's disk focuses on "late-night listening" - mellow music, including some classical music. Overall, Neil's disk is more varied than Chris' disk, and I love the way it bleeds back and forth between techno, ambient, and classical music. The disk may strike some as pretentious, but repeated listenings grounds the music and makes it more accessible. Neil has said in several sources that he suspects that fans will prefer Chris' disk, but I actually like both of them.

1) Traum by Fairmont - a beautiful techno song with French lyrics; Fairmont is Jacob Fairley, a music producer from Toronto.

2) Pulse Pause Repeat by Harold Budd, Ruben Garcia and Daniel Lentz - a piano ambient track.

3) Microgravity by Biosphere - this group is Keir Jensen; the song is one of my favorites on Neil's disk; reminds me of "We Came from Outer Space" from their "Very Relentless" CD.

4) Come In! (II Movement) by Ensemble Opus Posth - a rendition of Russian composer Vladimir Martynov; very nice music with what sounds like a xylophone over violins.

5) Promenade Sentimentale by Vladimir Cosma - a haunting piano track from the French movie "Diva."

6) La Baie by Etienne Daho - a French singer; this song really reminds me of Air's "Moon Safari" CD; one of the poppier selections on Neil's disk.

7) Tiny by Vessel - an electronic song by Gavin Toomey; nice but not memorable.

8) Laura's Theme by Craig Armstrong - Armstrong is a well-known UK producer who's worked with Madonna and Massive Attack; a nice straight-forward piano selection.

9) One Two Three by Closer Musik - when I first heard this song, I thought that Neil was singing on it; a very mellow ambient track with nice vocals.

10) Goin' Back by Dusty Springfield - a beautiful song from the UK single of "Son of a Preacher Man."

11) Lunz by Lunz - another pleasant ambient song with piano.

12) Sospiri Op. 70 by Sir John Barbirolli Conducts the New Philharmonic Orchestra - very nice rendition of a piece by Edward Elgar; sospiri means "sighs," which is quite appropriate for this piece.

13) DD Rhodes (...), the act gave itself a url address for a name; rather non-descript music though.

14) Video Kid by Video Kid - a highlight of Neil's disk; a New Zealand artist (nee Bret McKenzie) with his backing band, The Astronautz; a strange song about a boy "half kid, half machine."

15) Movement by Lobe - a late 90s techno song by Ian Hartley; a nicely textured song.

16) At Dusk by John Surman - a baroque-sounding song from the acclaimed reed instrumentalist.

17) Melodie Opus 47 No. 3 by Emil Gilels - Neil's disk leaves off with a haunting take on Edvard Grieg's classical piece.

Overall, "Back to Mine" is a really great collection. Fans of PSB shouldn't expect a collection of songs that sound like the Boys. However, if you have an open mind, you are likely to really enjoy these CDs. I don't prefer one of these disks to the other, although Chris' disk is far more accessible, and I find myself listening to "Stand on the Word" again and again. Just a few quibbles to note about this collection. First, the packaging is sub-par; the two disks have separate cardboard sleeves that slip into a flimsy holder. Second, I wish that the Boys had included more information about the tracks and artists. Many of these songs are not widely available, so it's hard to find out whether the artists have other material or when the songs were originally released