My October Symphony

In the heart of My October Symphony lies a sonic proposal that departs from conventions. To bring this piece to life, the Pet Shop Boys actively sought the warmth and expressiveness of analog synthesizers at a time when digital options were beginning to dominate. This preference for analog, guided by the experience of Harold Faltermeyer, who oversaw production in his Red Deer studio in Munich, lends the song a distinctive texture. The result is a sound that clearly sets itself apart from earlier works like Introspective and from what would follow, Very, exploring less-traveled sonic territories. The piece runs for 5:17, inviting immersion in its atmosphere.

The genesis of My October Symphony is framed within the creation of the album Behaviour, released in October 1990 under the Parlophone label. In Germany (then West Germany), Harold Faltermeyer was tasked with shaping this work. The album’s distinctiveness lies in its choice of instruments, where Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe opted to prioritize analog synthesizers, seeking a warmth they felt was missing in available digital equipment. This decision marked a turning point in their discography. The Pet Shop Boys, a duo from the United Kingdom, had already established their presence in the music scene since the mid-1980s with tracks like West End Girls. The collaboration between Tennant and Lowe began in August 1981, uniting their musical passions to create a sound that has led them to sell over 50 million records worldwide.