'Fundamental' difference

In the expansive canon of ``Twilight Zone"-like differences between the United States and the United Kingdom -- the colloquialisms, the food, the teeth -- none seems as odd as national perception of the duo the Pet Shop Boys.

Here, there are wide sections of the population that snicker at a faint mention of the band's name alone. They draw associations with John Hughes films, Spandau Ballet, and big, belted sweaters (which are back with a vengeance). They see the Pet Shop Boys as a few-hit wonder that sang about London ladies of the evening.

But in the UK, where Chris Lowe first meet Neil Tennant 25 years ago, the band has enjoyed the kind of career longevity reserved here for Madonna and Aerosmith. Earlier this year, the Pet Shop Boys charted with their 21st Top 10 single, ``I'm With Stupid," a dance song that looks at the relationship between British prime minister Tony Blair and George W. Bush. The duo's latest album, ``Fundamental," its first in four years -- and one of its strongest in recent memory -- combines topical commentary with producer Trevor Horn's ambrosial arrangements. The band plays at the Opera House tomorrow night.

``It's quite a strange dichotomy," says Tennant. ``Honestly, it's not something we spend a lot of time dwelling on. We're recording, touring, and writing so much of the time. We also do a lot of activities outside of that. We scored the silent Russian film `Battleship Potemkin.' That's been really successful. We've performed it eight times now, and every time we do it, it makes the national news."

Tennant continues to tick off a list of recent projects that includes remixing (and adding background vocals to) the Madonna single ``Sorry," a version that Madge later used in her concert tour. The Pet Shop Boys wrote and produced two tracks on Robbie Williams's latest UK album, and Tennant is currently producing Rufus Wainwright's new album. They have also been approached to write a second West End musical. (Their first, ``Closer to Heaven," had mixed reviews during its a one-month run at the Arts Theatre in London in 2001.) Tennant casually adds, ``I think we'll do it."

For ``Fundamental," the band's ninth album of new material, Tennant and Lowe tried to capture the feel of unrest that they perceive around the world.

``It's got many moods," Tennant says from his home in London. ``It's got a kind of tension to it, and that's exactly what we tried to do with the album is to capture the strange, tense time that we live in. But it's got humor to it. `I'm With Stupid' is quite jolly as political satires go. `Minimal' is about an authoritative government that's trying to come up with more methods to control and observe us. It's quite a jolly song in its own way, too."

These seeming contradictions (``jolly song" and ``authoritative government") and the resulting dissonance are what creates the best art in the Pet Shop Boys' microcosm. They also neatly sum up the chemistry of the band. Without Lowe's tech-pop acumen, Tennant confesses, he would be writing brooding, folk-pop tracks. He started composing music in the singer-songwriter vein during the 1970s, even auditioning for Elton John's Rocket Records label.

``I had never really thought about dance music," says Tennant. ``If you listen to our `Back to Mine' compilation, the songs Chris chose are all upbeat and dance-y. My songs are a mix of classical music and ambient music. If you played my album over Chris's album, you'd have a Pet Shop Boys song: a beautiful, somber melody over a throbbing bass line. There is that tension in our music."

Or, as in the case of the song ``Numb," the Pet Shop Boys' latest UK single, the tension can be derived from taking a song written by a woman best known for over-the-top rock ballads and handing it over to the reigning kings of understated electronic music.

``They asked me for a song," says famed songwriter Diane Warren . ``And I said, `You want a song from me? Are you sure?' I'm a big fan of the Pet Shop Boys. I sent them two songs. One of them is called `Kisses on the Wind.' Neil said, `We absolutely cannot record a song called `Kisses on the Wind.' "

The band decided instead on ``Numb," a song that Warren wrote about her feelings after her mother died of cancer. Originally, the song was to appear on a Pet Shop Boys greatest hits collection three years ago (the same collection that will finally be released in the States this month). But the duo were so fond of the results, they held it for ``Fundamental."

``I could have seen `Numb' go with a different voice," Warren says, beginning to sing the song with a Faith Hill-like bravado. ``But I think of my songs as children, and I want to find a loving home for my children. In this case, a dark, detached loving home. Neil's voice is perfect for a song like this. He under-sings it just right."

Tennant bristles when ``Fundamental" is referred to as a ``dance album" or, even worse, ``a return to form." He has a practiced ability to step over any part of the conversation that begins to get too treacly or self-important. But he can't resist getting excited when talking about the band's expansive catalog.

``It's quite exciting deciding what to play," he says of choosing songs for the current tour. ``We put all our songs in iTunes and we came up with a set list. For the first time in years, we're playing the original arrangements of these songs. It's funny, in the 1990s an '80s arrangement sounded dated. Now it sounds rather fresh. It's funny how musical fashions change, but we always enjoy being fashionable."

The Pet Shop Boys play at the Opera House tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. Tickets $42.50-$72.50. For information, call 617-931-2000 or visit ticketmaster.com.

Christopher Muther can be reached at muther@globe.com.