Looking forward to seeing the Pet Shop Boys on Monday night here in Chicago, one of only a few artists I always make a point of seeing live. As is my concert-going tradition, I’ve avoided reading reviews of their Pandemonium tour, wishing to retain the element of surprise. The duo’s attention to visual detail is high on the list of reasons they remain such a strong draw for me. That, and their unabashed affection for true pop music.

Indeed, for the Pet Shop Boys’ current album, Yes, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe called upon Xenomania, the production team that’s crafted catchy Brit hits for Sugababes, Girls Aloud, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Gabriella Cilmi, Alesha Dixon, etc. (on balance, loads of females). Actually, Pet Shop Boys’ writing sessions with Xenomania for Yes produced “The Loving Kind,” issued as a single this past January by Girls Aloud.

This week, the Pet Shop Boys’ second single from Yes, “Did You See Me Coming?” entered the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play chart at #43. That brings their career chart tally to 34, behind Janet Jackson (38) and Madonna (56). Back in July, Pet Shop Boys became the duo/group with the most #1 dance hits (9) when “Love Etc.” hit the top spot, breaking a previous tie with Depeche Mode.

I’m not entirely confident that “Did You See Me Coming?” will become the Pet Shop Boys’ tenth #1. Of the two mixes commercially available, one (the Unicorn Kid Mix) is quite dreadful; the song sounds trapped in a Nintendo game stuck on Level Rave (Pet Shop Bros.? Mario Boys?). But the other, the PSB Possibly More Mix, is pretty fantastic, bookending bits of the original track with personal ad-inspired chants reminiscent of “Paninaro ’95.” And really, who can refuse the charms of a Chris Lowe vocal cameo? Hear here:

Purchase Pet Shop Boys – “Did You See Me Coming? (PSB Possibly More Mix)” via iTunes, Amazon MP3.