The dynamic duo of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe return for what looms as their most ambitious project to date. This time around, the Pet Shop Boys have embarked upon scoring a ballet, a stage adaptation of Danish poet Hans Christian Andersen’s famous tale The Most Incredible Thing. The fairy tale follows a contest to find the most incredible thing, in which the winner will be rewarded with half a kingdom and the hand of its princess in marriage. Predictably, the story that unfolds is every bit as fantastical as its foundations. Its this story that the Pet Shop Boys have illustrated with stunning expression, the sheer depth of their creative vision coming to the fore once again.

In noticing that there are three acts spread across two discs - clocking in at an epic one hour and twenty minutes in length - the idea of The Most Incredible Thing can seem intimidating. As soon as the prologue, there forms an understanding that you must possess a great level of concentration to appreciate each meticulous dimension of the Pet Shop Boys' handiwork. Fortunately, it’s easy to get swept up in the blatant theatricality of it all, the duo magnificent in their execution of the tale, encapsulating the beauty of every fine pirouette of the stage. So often does the yearning to witness the production itself emerge throughout the experience of The Most Incredible Thing.

This is in part due to the Pet Shop Boys’ success in crafting a truly evocative score. "The Grind" quickly becomes a magical, yet harrowing ride with a sinister offbeat touch resurfacing to unsettle listeners without remorse. Not only does it engage from the outset, its reprise featured in Act Three - "Back To The Grind" - can be heard replicating its discordant nightmare, appearing genuinely moving and unnerving. There are various hallmarks of the Pet Shop Boys, namely the impassioned, methodical electro-pop of "Risk" and the hard-hitting "Physical Jerk" each demonstrating a familiar aesthetic. The aforementioned track "The Grind" actually features Tennant on vocals, but it’s a rare delight as the orchestration adopts the role of their voice for much of the release.

The Pet Shop Boy’s score to The Most Incredible Thingg is a wild ride to say the least, capped off by its glorious finale, "The Wedding" - an ecstatic release shimmering with optimism. When all is said and done, the score has all the curious charm of a Harry Potter universe with its own a perverse, fantastical twist. Challenging yet absorbing and disarmingly beautiful, The Most Incredible Thing offers a listening experience bound to resonate far beyond first impressions. Ultimately, when you find yourself wanting to experience the play itself, that’s when you know for sure that the duo have succeeded in creating something truly special.

Review Score: 9/10