They had the perfect opening number: a ditty called “Psychological.” They have made the one-word title something of a – what’s the word – signature. All their albums have one-word titles. Please. Actually. Very. Fundamental. It’s kind of minimal – also the one-word title of a song that segued into “Shopping” that was followed by “Rent,” “Suburbia,” and the hoary ’80s classic “Opportunities.” There was something ’80s about the whole show. Modest in scale. Unstadiumlike. This quaintness was reinforced by the sameness of the duo’s image: Lowe, the rent boy in cap and hoodie, and Tennant, the Victorian gentleman in top hat and tails. An odd and pleasantly diverting couple – more gayish than gay. “Welcome, ladies and gentleman, to an evening of electronic entertainment,” said Neil with a twinkle. It was less a rock gig than a disco salon: “Che Guevera and Debussy to a disco beat.” In a word? Droll.
– Fenton Bailey