Jonathan Harvey (2) – Closer To Heaven (Original Cast Recording)

I often feel Closer to Heaven was sidelined a bit. Pet Shop Boys produce pOp albums and then suddenly what is this play they are doing? Like classical music, stage and musicals are a key element informing PSB’s music. Closer to Heaven should be a kind of a crowning achievement for the Boys! Idiosyncratic, bold, ionate, huge in conception, fun, funny, poppy music.

It was a beautiful play, the story very sad (which irritated me a bit, yet another sad gay play), but it was also funny and the characters were real people, full of warmth. I don’t ordinarily like ‘West end’ plays, they can be caricatured, maybe I don’t give enough chance, but I prefer fringe productions. Closer to Heaven was an exception, the characters were real, you felt for them. And the music / songs are exceptional.

Key tracks are: the title track Closer to Heaven (the play reveals the meaning to the lyrics – “never been closer to heaven, never been further away” – sticks in my throat). It's Just My Little Tribute to Caligula, Darling! Typical Tennant humour, sits up there with Absolutely Fabulous. And Positive Role Model, an anthem worthy of 10 extended remixes.

A Vinyl Factory production to commemorate the extra-ordinary production of Closer to Heaven could have been very special. Because I wrote this, I notice there has been an official vinyl release of Closer to Heaven in double red vinyl produced in Estonia and quite awkward to buy here in England. Oh my god twisted as f**k. I’m going to blow up my little inflatable dinghy now to go and buy it.

Wonderful album / beautiful music. One of my top three PSB’s albums.

[Regarding the bigger, off-the-beaten-tracks Pet Shop Boys projects, for me, Closer to Heaven is more consummately ‘PSB’ than The Most Incredible Thing and Battleship.]

Ordered this from Italy, a little sceptical that it's from a Russian label, but it's great. They wisely split the single CD over three sides of 2 LPs so that the audio has room to breath. Vinyl is spotless: no crackle or clicks and flat as a pancake. Nice gatefold with photos from the show and all the lyrics, and an insert with a short essay on the production on one side, and Jonathan Harvey's short piece on his writing process with the Pet Shop Boys. The vinyl came in poly-lined sleeves. Very happy to have discovered this in time to add it to my collection

Mine came with a slightly dinged corner. I ed them and firstly they said there was nothing they could do as it happened in shipping (even though as the seller they are responsible for getting items to me in the same condition sent). Then having threatened to put a claim in through PayPal they changed their tune and said as packages are all insured they could file a claim for the damage. I have a feeling they were just fobbing me off and that actually nothing is going to happen. I’ll not buy from them again I doubt.

Although packaged well, in both mine and a friends copy the records came warped!

From Estonia to the Netherlands within 5 days !!
Great packaging and gatefold. Quality is really good.

Shipment Fast To Mexico, Deluxe sleeve and contens, a fans must have, Audio Quality is Good! A little bit lower since the CD but its great! Hope they release Battleship Potemkin, The Most Incredible Thing and Musik.

You can order double vinyl in red color on the Maschina Records on-line store:
maschinarecords com

Maschina Records is going to be reissuing this album on double red vinyl. Should be released sometime in May 2022.