Pet Shop Boys will release their new album, ‘A Man From The Future’ – inspired by pioneering British mathematician Alan Turning – later this year.
Due October 9 via Parlophone, the LP is structured as eight chapters, each of which explores a significant period of Turning’s life and legacy chronologically via songs, spoken word, electronic and orchestral music. The project was originally performed with the BBC Concert Orchestra at the Proms in 2014 and has been updated for its first official release.
Beginning in his school days, during which time he showed an initial interest in mathematics and science, it goes on to explore his sexuality and he progresses through Cambridge University, his leading role in the British Government unlocking the German Enigma machine’s encrypted messages during World War II, and his place in inventing the digital computer.
Later, it touches on his prediction of Artificial Intelligence and goes on to detail the latter years of his life, in which he was put on trial and convicted for a homosexual relationship, and later died by suicide in 1954.
Music is written by Pet Shop Boys with string arrangements by Sven Helbig performed by the Manchester Camerata Octet. Boys from the Manchester Grammar School choir also sing on four tracks, with narration taken from Andrew Hodges’ book ‘Alan Turing: the Enigma’ spoken by actress Juliet Stevenson.
The closing track also includes a 2009 speech made by former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, acknowledging Turing’s groundbreaking work and aplogising for the inhumane treatment he received under homophobic laws.
“Our motive in creating this work was to make a musical memorial to Alan Turing who gave so much to his country and the world and was rewarded for it by being prosecuted for his sexuality,” say Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe.
“Alan made a massive contribution to the defeat of Germany in World War II and was a pioneer of computing, imagining a world with intelligent computers,” they add. “He also looked forward to a time when being gay would be accepted as normal. In both his professional and private lives, he was ahead of his time.”
‘A Man From The Future’ is released on October 9 and available to pre-order from Amazon, HMV, Rough Trade, Townsend and more.
Tracklist: Pet Shop Boys – ‘A Man From The Future’
1. Natural Wonders Every Child Should Know
2. He Dreamed Of Machines
3. The Enigma
4. Other Ranks
5. The Memory And The Control
6. The Trial
7. Only In His Death
8. A Man From The Future
