As previously reported, Pet Shop Boys have collaborated with Alan Turing biographer, Andrew Hodges, on a musical composition including songs, spoken word and electronic and orchestral music. Called “A man from the future”, the work explores eight significant chapters in the life and death of Alan Turing and will be released as an album on October 9th via Parlophone Records. It is available to pre-order now.
We have additional information about the making of the album. Recording took place in London, Manchester and Berlin. Juliet Stevenson’s narration was recorded by Pete Gleadall in Pet Shop Boys’ studio in London as were Neil’s sung vocals. The Manchester Camerata Octet, playing string arrangements by Sven Helbig, were recorded in the Stoller Hall, Manchester. In the same venue the boys of the Manchester Grammar School choir, conducted by Robert Carey, and backing vocals by Abimola Amoako-Gyampah, Senab Adekunle, Dawn Joseph and Joel Fender were also recorded. The octet and choir were recorded by engineer Brendan Williams while the backing vocals were recorded by Pete Gleadall.
With original programming and keyboards by Chris and Neil, the album was produced by Pet Shop Boys and Sven Helbig. Maarten Vos contributed additional production, programming and synthesisers in his studio in Berlin. Olsen Involtini mixed the album in his studio in eastern Germany during sessions attended by Sven Helbig and Neil Tennant. Finally, the album was mastered in Berlin by Zino Mikorey. The album artwork was designed by Farrow and Andrew Hodges has contributed an essay to the CD and vinyl booklets.
(Photo by Neil of Sven Helbig with the Manchester Camerata Octet in the Stoller Hall, Manchester.)
