Band No 1: New Order.
Before I start. In these discussion threads the opinions are my own. If there is things I miss feel free to add comments at the end. Now starting with New Order in the discussion thread I feel i quite logical a band that a band who probably influenced so many others. Essentially New Order were a band born out of tragedy but also of the need to continue. The early work of New Order especially around 1980 was a band working on the last material or working songs done before Ian Curtis death. The songs ‘Ceremony’ and ‘In A Lonely Place’ kept them in the public eye, where as they were playing live and working on new material. It was followed in 1981 by the album ‘Movement’ which remains one of my favourites, but for the newly converted to the New Order music its pretty much the sound of a band experimenting and finding their feat. If anything the Peel sessions probably had more clearer focus at this time. Looking back with hindsight you could tell that there was a more optimistic angle to their music. Tracks like ‘Procession’ , ‘ Everything’s gone green’. Were not in the mode of say ‘In a Lonely place’.
The ‘temptation’ track of 1982 was a success on the indie charts and was giving the band new listeners who might not have heard of Joy Division. Its been well documented that they were trying out a new drum machine which formed the basis of the track ‘586’ which went on to become ‘Blue Monday’. The track was unique in terms of sound, but was also packaged differently. In late 1983 they released ‘Confusion’ which was still successful. Their second album called ‘Power Corruption and Lies’ which was produced at Pink Floyd Studios gained the band more recognition and critical acclaim.
1984 was a quiet year for New Order apart from touring and releasing ‘Thieves Like Us’ and the import ‘Murder’. They were working on the next album. ‘Lowlife’released in 1985 was a classic album, 8 tracks which were a mixture of new sounds, but also there was tracks like Sunrise which gave hints to Joy Division. Even though they had moved on. The Singles ‘Perfect Kiss’, Subculture’ followed.
Further singles followed in 1986 ‘ Shame of the nation’. Followed by the album ‘Brotherhood’ which roughly around the same time they released ‘Bizarre Love Triangle’.
After that they released ‘true Faith ‘ and followed that up with the best of compilation ‘Substance’ . In some ways not original material but it howed New Order upto being a great singles band. Things were quiet until 1989 when they released ‘Technique’. Which was more dance orientated, but was also a sign that Bernard songwriting was more settled and as a result the experimental side of their sound took a back seat.
Apart from the 1990 single ‘World in Motion’. They took another break and followed this up with ‘Republic’ in 1992. In and around the mid 90s, New order disbanded and Gillian left the band. The album called ‘Ger Ready’ and ‘Waiting for the Sirens call followed with line up changes. Then in the late 2000s. The working relationship between Hook and the rest of the band broke down. With the band split into two factions.
Personally I always felt when New Order performed live Peter Hook was more for the rocky songs, where as the experimental electronic edge was more a collective effort between the other two(Gilbert and Morris).
Recently New Order re -emerged on Mute records and released the album ‘Music Complete’. Where was Peter Hook has toured Joy division and New order work under the light.
To conclude I think the New Order output from the 80’s was right up there with other classic bands. It was a band that could play electronic or play guitar rock, it could be argued that they combined both. It was a band knowing their history that you wanted them to succeed.
The material of the concerts I have seen from their last tour is showing an updating of their sound, which is really good to hear. Gillian Gilbert being back in the band has enabled New Order to move on and not stand still.
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