Named after the debut single by Teenage Fanclub.
This blog is all about being a music lover in Glasgow; reviews, interviews, memories, old faves, new discoveries (past and present), playlists and more. Thanks for visiting - I hope you discover something amazing you have never heard before, or that you rediscover an old favourite.
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I always feel warmer when I hear Regret by New Order. That opening burst of guitar and synth combining so naturally is a real rush that sends tingles down my spine. When it comes in again, like a stutter, you know you're in for something special. Then the groove supplied by Hook and Morris kicks in and oh how Regret groove and flows. Barney starts singing at 40-seconds in;
Maybe I've forgotten, the name and the address
Of everyone I've ever known, it's nothing I regret
This song always reminds me of travelling to Manchester on the Glasgow Manchester United Supporters Club bus. I'd previously travelled down by train the odd time, unaware that a bus left Glasgow for every home game! I only found out during a stadium tour when the guide told me about it. How had I missed this?
Branch secretary Dave Sharkey had encouraged me to make a mixtape up for my first bus down. Regret kicked in just as the bus was crossing over a flyover just outside of Manchester, sun streaming through the windows, bottle of beer in hand ... perfect. United beat Wimbledon 5-1, Cole (2), Giggs, Beckham and Yorke got the goals.
The chorus to Regret might be the most uplifting out and out chorus in the New Order cannon, bittersweet reflection wrapped in a euphoric melody.
I would like a place I could call my own
Have a conversation on the telephone
Wake up every day that would be a start
I would not complain about my wounded heart
I was a upset you see, almost all the time
You used to me a stranger, now you are mine
By the early '90s, New Order were at a crossroads. Factory Records was collapsing, their relationship with each other was strained, and Republic would ultimately be their last album for over a decade. Yet somehow, amidst the turmoil, they created Regret, a song that feels effortlessly cool and confident, yet loaded with unspoken emotion.
Peter Hook’s bass is played low down the fret, typically distinctive, immensely cool, it's tasty throughout, while his solo is delicious. Stephen Morris’ drums push everything forward with an urgent, driving energy. Gillian Gilbert’s synths shimmer in the background, giving the song that unmistakable New Order glow.
New Order are wizards with intro's and outro's and Regret is one of their very best with Peter Hook's bass groove beautifully entwined with Bernard Sumner's guitar chimes,
Just wait til tomorrow
I guess that's what they all say
Just before they fall apart
Did the band really play Regret on the set of Baywatch for Top of the Pops? Of course they did, this is New Order we're talking about. Surreal and sublime! Hooky throwing all kinds of shapes to impress the bikinin clad babes, Gillian wearing factor 90 and Barney looking super cool.
Regret is added to my Trust Me playlist; search for Everything Flows - Trust Me on Spotify or CLICK HERE. Check below for all previous blogs in my Trust Me series.
Continuing my semi-regular series of blogs where I write about 10 of my favourite songs from my favourite bands / artists. It was always going to be hard to narrow it down to only 10-songs from New Order!
New Order are like a perfect band for me. Through the 1980's they seemed lost in their own world, pop, but with a desire to experiment with sound and equipment. They could party hard, they were/are successful - but not too big. They had their own little club in Manchester that they could play (and pre Acid House they had to play to keep it running!). The band were all characters and attracted characters, Bernard Sumner had/has amazing hair, they had complete control of their music and art, they suffered heartache, they kept on going.
And they were/are gloriously imperfect. At times (most of the time) they didn't know how to work half the equipment they bought. Their manager (Rob Gretton) and label manager (Tony Wilson) were certainly characters but they also essentially bankrupted them. Despite the incredible journey they had been on, Hook and Sumner ended up hating each other. They (at least for a while) lost money on every 12-inch single of Blue Monday.
I got into the band around the release of 1993's Republic and the stunning single Regret, although I was well aware of them at the age of 14 in 1990 with the World Cup single World In Motion.
Discovering Substance was an eye opener, this was a band who did things their way. Non-album singles like Temptation! And as I dug through the bands 80's catalogue, I learned just how prolific they were; 5 studio albums, a staggering 19 singles and the aforementioned Substance compilation.
Can you imagine following New Order from the start through that decade and beyond?! What a journey.
I was too young for the 80's and even just a little young in 1993. They broke up after Republic, so it was amazing when they got back together to release Get Ready in 2001. I tried to catch them as many times as I could; taking in brilliant shows in Glasgow and Manchester over the years. Even post Hooky they played a blinding show at the Academy touring Music Complete, although it wasn't quite the same without him patrolling the stage. Whenever I saw them live, it was like the band had 2 frontmen.
Watching New Order live was a real sense of occasion. I met fellow fans who travelled across the country (and the world) to follow them. The level of passion and dedication they inspire is incredible.
Hooky's love of New Order (and Joy Division) shines through in his books and his endless run of shows where he performs their back catalogue. I do wish that he and the rest of the band could make up, even for a one-off show. Sadly, I don't think I'll see that happen.
Bernard Sumner is one of my favourite guitar players, songwriters and singers. He makes his limitations really work for him and the song. He pushes himself at times and he is never afraid to go with the first riff or line that comes to mind.
Narrowing down my favourite New Order songs to only 10 was very tough. I do love later day singles like Crystal (what a comeback single, all hooks and chorus and more hooks!) and Krafty, but not enough to make my top 10.
Two songs from Technique are included, but they could easily be replaced by any other 2 of that album on another day; particularly All The Way and Round & Round.
And Face Up has become a real favourite of mine since seeing Hooky perform it at the Glasgow School of Art a few years back, but it just couldn't quite squeeze into my top 10.
Love Vigilantes became a real favourite for a long time after I travelled down to see them in Manchester and they opened the show with it. And then there is True Faith! And Blue Monday may be New Order's most famous song and I love when they play it live, or in days gone by I loved hearing it in a club or pre-club, but it probably wouldn't be in my top 15 favourites. I can't remember the last time I played it.
So, after careful consideration, here are my;
10 favourite New Order songs.
Regret
One of my all-time favourite intro's. The synths burst in and cut to guitar a couple of times before both then crash into bass and drums, with Hooky leading the way. I love Bernard's vocals on this one, the production is sublime, everything sounds effortless.
Maybe I've forgotten the name and the address
Of everyone I've ever known, it's nothing I regret
The Perfect Kiss - Substance Edit
An 8-minute epic electro pop gem. Hooky's bass sounds like he could be in Level 42 at the start, then there is an immediate change in pace and a sublime programmed electronic groove kicks in before heavenly synths create a pure hands-in-the-air feel after 1-minute 19 seconds.
Sumner's lyrics are playful, none more so than the second verse;
I have always thought about
Staying in and going out
Tonight I should have stayed at home
Playing with my pleasure zone
The way New Order use the 8-minutes to play and stretch this song out is pure brilliance. The breakdown (complete with frog sounds) is beautifully chilled before the beats kick in and take the song to conclusion with powerful synth stabs and Hooky going for it on bass. Glorious!
I've included the official video and also a brilliant 1985 performance from Toronto with Bernard on cowbell wearing shorts, sports socks and slip ons!
Your Silent Face
The first time I heard this was when New Order played the Barrowland Ballroom in 2001. I was absolutely blown away, the synths, Sumner's delivery, humour and just the way the band looked and sounded. They knew full well what a f**king masterpiece they were performing.
And of course I was taken by surpise and delight by the audience participation after Sumner's delivery of the line; you caught me at a bad time so why don't you ... and a large section of the crowd yelled PISS OFF.
Their return that year with the Crystal single and a burst of shows led me to properly explore their back catalogue as I tracked down vinyl albums and singles in second hand record shops across Glasgow and on eBay. Power, Corruption & Lies is probably my favourite New Order album, although I think Technique is the best.
Ceremony
What an incredible debut single! When Ian Curtis committed suicide in 1980, shortly before an American tour that was set to break them, the rest of the band had a number of choices to make.
Numb with grief, the band went in to rehearse, Sumner and Hook have both said in their books that they just didn't know what else to do. No-one wanted to be the singer, but Sumner ended up taking vocal duties and just over 2-months after Ian Curtis' death, the new trio of Sumner, Hook and Morris (that night going under the name The No Names after Factory band The Names pulled out) played a 4 or 5 song set - no-one can quite remember.
Ceremony was in the set and it has been ever since.
Sumner, Morris and Hook sound as tight as tight can be, but in a beautiful loose way, threatening to fall apart or push further forwards, it sounds slightly chaotic in a glorious way. Sumner tears into his guitar at times and creates a playful yet simple riff at others, Hooky plays his bass way down, Morris is sensational with his beats.
When the band tear back into it at 2-minutes 30 seconds it is the sound of a band on fire. Then we have a sublime extended breakdown and then a glorious blast for a 30-second finale.
Check the ferocious Joy Division version
Oh I'll break them down, no mercy shown
Heaven knows it's got to be this time
Age of Consent
The opening track on the sublime Power, Corruption & Lies album, Age of Consent would most probably have been a single if New Order were not sticking to their no singles on album rule.
Hooky's bass grooves throughout, Sumner's guitar is playful, his lyrics tell a tale, the beat and hi-hats are relentless and at a couple of points the synths threaten to delightfully overpower everything else.
Sumner admits he's not a certain type and then admits he has lost, letting out delightful yelps over an extended outro as the band just let rip.
I'm the kind that likes to tell you
Just what I want to do
I'm not the kind that need to tell you
I've lost you, I've lost you, I've lost you
Run
Bernard picks beautiful riffs on a 12-string acoustic, Hooky's bass grooves throughout, there is a slice of euphoric electric guitar, Sumner's vocal melody is (for me) one of his best - just flowing effortlessly and everything just feels so natural.
One of their very best outro's ... and there are many to choose from.
Vanishing Point
New Order love intro's and outro's, often having 2 or 3 sections to each. With Vanishing Point the band use the first 90-seconds to display musical brilliance, Sumner is also on top form with his lyrics and delivery. There is a sense of hurt and anger to them.
My life ain't no holiday
I've been through the point of no return
I've seen what the man can do
I've seen all the hate of a woman too
The breakdown at 3-minutes 30-seconds lasts a full half minute before the band explode back in with the chorus. A stunning song that really captures the band at their very best.
Thieves Like Us (12-inch version)
Thieves Like Us grooves and is beautifully lazily euphoric in a way that I don't think any other band could achieve. Released in 1984, Thieves Like Us really highlights how New Order had developed as a band, their self production of this song is just blissful, the long, long intro is split into 3 parts, with the second synth riff starting at 1-minute, then Hooky taking over on bass just before the 2-minute mark. Eventually Bernard comes in, singing now you live your life like a shadow, in the pouring rain before pushing his range gloriously by singing
Oh it's called love
And it belongs to us
Before a short second verse where he sings;
I've lived my life in the valleys
I've lived my life in the hills
I've lived my life on alcohol
I've lived my life on pills
Thieves Like Us grooves and is beautifully lazily euphoric in a way that I don't think any other band could achieve.
Bizarre Love Triangle (Shep Pettibone 12-inch version)
This song takes me places. When New Order play this live it makes me very, very happy. Full of loads of different synth riffs, stabs and flourishes, this is New Order at their very, very best.
Every time I see you falling
I get down on my knees and pray
I'm waiting for that final moment
You say the words that I can't say
The 7-inch version is a rush, the 12-inch version just takes that rush and keeps it going.
Temptation
As perfect as a song can be. The original version just about holds itself together and is all the more beautiful for it. Lyrically brilliant; exceptionally poetic in the verse, then simplistic and playful at times but also full of meaning, easy to relate to.
Up, down, turn around
Please don't let me hit the ground
Tonight I think I'll walk alone
I'll find my soul as I go home
It blows my mind that this was released in 1982. Can you imagine being in your mid-late teens or early 20's when this came out! So fresh, energetic and utterly stupendous?!
You can hear the band shouting to each other when you listen to the epic 8-minute 41 second original as they tear into a groove, before dropping to all Sumner to start with the beautiful;
Oh you've got green eyes
Oh you've got blue eyes
Oh you've got grey eyes
And I've never met anyone quite like you before
After some stunning bass work from Peter Hook, the synth is allowed to just bubble gloriously for a little before Sumner comes in again, his voice rising with emotion.
A heaven, a gateway, a hope
Just like a feeling inside, it's no joke
Sumner's guitar is punky Chic-esque rhythm at times, then picking brilliant little riffs at others. The synth and the beats are steady, Hook meanders up and down his bass with delight.
Each way I turn, I know I'll always try
To break the circle that's been placed around me
Temptation is a top 3 all-time favourite song of mine. I originally heard a rerecorded version on Substance and on the Trainspotting soundtrack, but then I discovered the original on an Italian 1981-82 EP and the rawness just blew me away.
Technique recorded in Ibiza and released early in January 1989 in perfect time for the Second Summer Of Love, is probably my favourite New Order album.
The band had experimented with synths and beats from the off, leading to some impeccable electro pop like Bizarre Love Triangle, Thieves Like Us, The Perfect Kiss and of course the more experimental side of things with Blue Monday. And if you explore their albums you'll find gems like Your Silent Face and Face-Up.
The band take things to another level with Technique - although the band started recording in Ibiza (in a sh*t hole of a studio - but with a swimming pool according to Peter Hook) they finished it in Peter Gabriels Real World Studios. The discovery of Ecstasy while in Ibiza may have influenced with the sound, style and lyrics on the album, but it didn't help with the work ethic and actually finishing anything.
Still, the 4-months in Ibiza laid a path not only for New Order but for the Hacienda, Manchester and Madchester as Factory Records label mate Bez came out to sample Ibiza and proceeded to import ecstasy to the Hacienda, transforming it overnight. Bez's autobiography and Peter Hook's books on New Order and the Hacienda are all extremely entertaining reads and really highlight how quickly ecstasy transformed a club, sounds, style and a generation.
Opener Fine Time sets the tone; high-hat action leads to synths, beats and squelchy bass. There are all kind of riffs floating about and all coming together to sound incredible. Sumner's vocals are whispery and then a Barry White style vocal kicks in (Sumner with effects) which is typical New Order humour.
At 2 minutes 28 seconds everything cuts out to a thumping beat over a high-hat before everything comes colliding into place after a Hooky bass riff.
New Order being New Order had to perform live on Top of the Pops rather than mime and Peter Hook describes the issues this caused with much hilarity in his book. Bernard Sumner looks he was enjoying himself!
Technique isn't all beats and synths though. All The Way is stunning guitar pop with Sumner singing about taking years to find the truth within himself and not caring what others say. The guitars shimmer, Hooky's bass grooves and it sounds like pure summer.
Love Less is built on a Hooky bass groove and Sumner sings as good as he ever has about a love broken down.
But you know
I watch every step that you make
To find some other fool you can take
Round and Round was another single from the album and it starts with real urgency in the synths before finding a groove. It's two verses and two choruses and then it takes off on a little instrumental journey, the synths programmed for stun, eventually leading back to the chorus.
The picture you see is no portrait of me
It's too real to be shown to someone I don't know
And it's driving me wild
It makes me act like a child
The darkest song on the album is probably Guilty Partner. Sumner's lyrics and song titles throughout the album perhaps indicate where he was at around this time. He injects extra urgency into the chorus and Hook's bass just jams and leads along throughout.
Then we come to Run, my favourite song on the album. This is just guitar pop perfection, Sumner plays a 12-string acoustic at times, then fires off a huge electric guitar riff after the first verse. Sumner is one of my favourite singers and guitar players. His ability to find a melody and let it flow is incredible, as is his knack of simple guitar solos. What a glorious uplifting outro.
Run was remixed and released as a single as Run 2.
Sumner's vocal melodies flow with ease on Mr Disco. The song almost comes as two, going off down a more electro path after 2 minutes 36 seconds before bring the chorus
I can't find my piece of mind
Because I need you with me all of the time
I used to think about you night and day
I used to feel what language cannot say
Oh I can't find you
I can't find my piece of mind without you
Then we progress to the astonishing Vanishing Point, this is New Order at their very, very best in my book. There is a euphoric 90-second intro before Sumner comes in. Musically, this is insanely good the way everything comes together, Hooky's bass before a hands in the air breakdown that then leads to the beats and chorus kicking back in - incredible.
My life ain't no holiday
I've been through the point of no return
I've seen what a man can do
I've seen all the hate of a woman too
Ibiza may have influenced the lyrics on Dream Attack. There is another beautiful intro and Sumner sings about waking up in the sunshine with the sound of music in his head.
There is a classic Sumner contradiction in the chorus; I don't belong to no-one, but I want to be with you before we are led to another piece of Peter Hook genius bass playing. Check how low he goes in the live video from 1989 below.
New Order were untouchable in the 1980's. To go from Ceremony and Movement in 1981 to Technique and Vanishing Point in 1989 is remarkable. Their resilience in the way they came together out of the tragic death of Ian Curtis, the way they experimented, created, pioneered and the sensational run of singles and albums they released is almost unbelievable to look back on.
The band went on to peak commercially in 1990 with the release of the England World Cup song - World In Motion. A lengthy break after the subsequent Republic album was brought to an end with the brilliant comeback single of Crystal and the Get Ready album.
Peter Hook and his band The Light continue their remarkable journey through the back catalogues of Joy Division and New Order in chronological order by playing Technique and Republic at SWG3 in Glasgow on Sunday 30th September.
Cover version of the month #21 Galaxie 500 cover New Order
Ceremony, the debut release by New Order, was a (kind of) cover version. The song was written by Ian Curtis and performed live by Joy Division and there is also a studio version that was recorded only 4-days before his death. However all 3 known recordings of Joy Division playing Ceremony have partially audible vocals.
New Order's version was released in early 1981, less than a year after Curtis' death. I have just finished reading Peter Hook's excellent Substance autobiography and he talks of how the band just didn't know how to react to Curtis' suicide, they didn't know how to grieve and they didn't know what to do. So, Sumner, Hook and Morris did the only thing they knew.... they met up and played music. Unable to decide on a singer (eventually landing at Sumner at default after a number of shows with all 3 taking on vocals), they also struggled with a band name, thankfully choosing New Order over some bizarre suggestions by manager Rob Gretton.
New Order then rerecorded and rereleased Ceremony in the same year, due to the addition of Gillian Gilbert to the band.
Both versions are raw and full of urgency; the bass and guitar riff entwined with each other and Stephen Morris keeps the drums and percussion going throughout. Sumner's guitar is a delight - his playful style with New Order ensures he is one of my favourite guitarists.
Galaxie 500 are a band I discovered via Nirvana. I remember buying their On Fire album from Missing Records on Oswald Street. The album not only contains this excellent cover version of Ceremony, but also one of George Harrison's Isn't It A Pity.
Galaxie 500 recognise the beauty of Ceremony and add on an extra 90 seconds to the New Order version. They start with the guitar riff in all its raw glory, slowly coaxing in some light high hats and the second riff. The vocals are strained and sound all the better for it, the drums sound primitive in comparison to Stephen Morris' work with New Order, the bass is low in the mix, unlike Hook's mighty bass for New Order.
The build to the concluding Watching forever... segment is glorious - sounding fragile and soulful at the same time before the band get lost in guitars and drums for the final 90 seconds.
It is a cracking cover version that remains true to the original in many ways, but stretches it out and plays on the strength of the riffs, melody and lyrics.
After almost 3-hours on stage legendary bassist Peter Hook removed his instrument and then peeled off a soaking t-shirt, gave it a careful and considerate wring, and then threw it into the adoring mass of fans chanting 'Hooooooky'.
Bare chested and with a few tattoos, he beat his chest and saluted the crowd. He looked like a warrior, in many ways he is one. He's taken on more than a few battles in his time and there were moments on stage at the Barrowland Ballroom last night where it was crystal clear that he was playing as if his very life depended on it.
Where does this 60-year old veteran get the energy and the stamina from? Well, towards the end of the lengthy show, the evidence presented itself. The audience responded to the sheer energy of Joy Division songs like Transmission and She's Lost Control and Hooky somehow took it up a level, using his bass like a weapon to unleash those bass lines that won hearts all over the world.
The answer is that there is no bigger fan of Joy Division and New Order than Peter Hook himself. His mission is to travel the world playing their back catalogue to fans of all ages. That catalogue brought him to Substance, New Orders incredible compilation album, originally released in 1987; compiling all of their 12-inch singles and b-sides to that point alongside new single True Faith.
Picture by Stuart Westwood
It took a few songs for things to ignite, but once the flame was lit, there was no going back. Ceremony was delivered at breakneck speed, sounding sensational. Hooky patrolled the stage and fired the bass riff down the throats of the audience.
Everything's Gone Green still sounds futuristic all these years down the line and Temptation is one of my favourite songs of all time. I abandoned my wife and friends to run into the centre of the crowd for some mad dancing and pogo-ing, lost in the music.
Blue Monday was a delight, a young couple in front of me danced like they were in the Hacienda in the Second Summer Of Love and looked like they were too. To my left there was a Dad with two teenage daughters who had been glued to their mobiles for the first few songs, now they were dancing with their Dad and like everyone else in the Barras.
Hooky is backed up by a cracking band including his son Jack on second (and sometimes duelling) bass, Andy Poole on keyboards, Paul Kehoe on drums and David Potts on guitar and vocals.
Potts guitar playing was exceptional throughout and his vocals suited some songs more than Hooky's deep voice (I'm sure Hooky would be first to admit that). The Perfect Kiss was utterly outstanding, intro, verses, choruses, outro....and one extended instrumental allowed Hooky to catch a deserved breath while leaning against a speaker. Bizarre Love Triangle was as majestical and magical as always and True Faith proved to be the most popular New Order song of the night, generating a huge reaction with the crowd singing their hearts out with their hands in the air.
Picture by Stuart Westwood Photography
There was time for An Ode To Anthony H Wilson to be played before the band came back on to begin the Joy Division set. This was delivered with pace, menace and incredible force.
These Days was a highlight for me, while many of the older heads around me lost it to the likes of Warsaw, Leaders Of Men and Digital. My favourite song by Joy Division remains the beautiful Atmosphere, so dark, yet so uplifting, reaching for the stars for answers.
Hooky told us they had one more to play and then we could all f**k off home, launching into an epic Love Will Tear You Apart that threatened to take the roof off the Ballroom. The band brought it all back down at one point to allow the crowd to continue to sing the chorus over and over. Hooky looked emotional and had to compose himself before delivering the final verse and chorus.
This was a brilliant night, a celebration of the music of Joy Division and New Order. That is Hooky's mission and this was easily mission accomplished.
A final word on the great man himself. His passion for the music and energy and stamina to deliver such a lengthy set was fantastic to witness and hear. This isn't a show, it really is a celebration and celebrate we did.
I didn't go and see New Order the last time they played in Scotland. I was upset that the band had carried on under the legendary name following the departure of Peter Hook. All reports from that Edinburgh show were that the band were in sensationally euphoric form - better than ever.
So, when they announced they were playing in Glasgow I snapped up tickets quick sharp. At £40 a pop they were not cheap, but the incredible 10-minute version of Temptation was worth the admission price alone....although there was much more besides!
I did miss Hooky though and although New Order played well, I think they also miss his stage presence and passion. I do wish they would kiss and make up but sadly that seems a million miles away.
Bernard Sumner, Steven Morris and Gillian Gilbert remain from the original line-up, assisted by Phil Cunningham and Tom Chapman and they all gelled well, although Bernard took a while to warm up and muttered something about being under the weather.
The crowd didn't care, they were bang up for it and that seemed to translate to New Order. Ceremony was predictably charged and punky, Your Silent Face was as welcome as always and 5-8-6 a pleasant surprise from the early days.
Lonesome Tonight was beautiful but perhaps the most pleasing thing of the whole night was the incredible response from the crowd to the new songs from this years Music Complete album.
Tutti Frutti, People On The High Line and Plastic were greeted with sheer elation. Sumner managed a few twirls on stage and his vocals at the end of Plastic were euphoric. A full on disco was taking place in Glasgow with a superb light shows, regular blasts of dry ice and people dancing without a care in the world - lost in sublime electronic pop music.
Bernard Sumner bathed in lights
The only bizarre song of the night was a remixed version of Waiting For The Sirens To Call which just didn't work at all - in terms of the remix or the song selection or placing it directly after Bizarre Love Triangle which was utterly incredible. The crowd went nuts, punching the air and dancing like it was the 80's.
The end of the set was sublime, Plastic,The Perfect Kiss, a euphoric True Faith and then a 10-minute romp through Temptation with a brilliant moment when Bernard brought things down to the beat to listen to the crowd singing, chanting and hollering the ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh refrain. The crowd started this up again during the down time before the encore. It was also brilliant to bounce around with my friend Tel and his son Benji - a Dad taking his teenage son to his first New Order show.
Atmosphere was shimmering glory in all its splendour, an incredible song played with the video in the background and pictures of Curtis. Love Will Tear Us Apart was delivered at pace and Blue Monday ended the show with everyone going crazy.
A great night with some truly joyous moments getting lost in timeless music.
One of the great things about two loves of my life - music and football - is that the break barriers. I spent a year travelling between 2007 and 2008 and joined in games in Asia, South America and Australia, and I danced, sang and joined in street party jams all over the world too.
Some time before that I met Terry Harrop through a mutual love of Manchester United. We sat together on my first Glasgow Supporters Club bus down to Manchester and discovered we also shared similar taste in music. I also found out that Tel was a complete Joy Division and New Order nut. As he is slightly more than 10-years older than me, he has been there since the inception of the band - through the challenges, the highs, arguments, break ups and get togethers.
So who better to write a guest blog review of New Orders Music Complete?
Here it is.
The scenario is, your favourite band has announced a tour
and the release of a new album.
But it has been a long time since this band has released
an album of any worth.But still, in the
vain hope that the new album captures some essence of what made you like them
in the first place, you go on line and book your concert tickets before you
have even heard a single track from the new release.
The album duly arrives, you rip off the shrink wrapper,
sit down, and get ready for a return of the good times..............but they
never come.
Track after pointless track goes by, and you realise the game is up, it's a below
average album from a band whose time came and went a long, long, time ago. But
you have already bought the tickets for the gig, and no one is going to take
them off your hands now.
You duly arrive at the Gig and hope against hope that the
set is going to be Greatest Hits Heavy and that they are not going to fill the
set with the mundane tracks from their new album. But instead they do, they
dispense with some of the classic songs that take you to heaven and back, and
replace them with songs that take you the toilet and back.
Well that's the spoiler alert for U2 fans over and done
with, let's get down to New Order.
Music Completeis without a doubt the most powerful album
New Order have released since Technique in 1989. It has in track no
3 Plastic the best track they have written since Here to
Stay from the sound track of 24 Hour Party People released in
2002.
Unlike U2 if New Order replace some of the greatest
classic songs in the fourth coming live set with tracks from this album, I for
one will not be disappointed, as I will be too busy dancing.
Recent New Order albums were more guitar orientated, and
suffered as a result. Instead with this album we have the joy of New Order,
Drum Programming, Sequencers, Keyboards, Bernard singing catchy vocals over the
top and Dance Orientated.
Peter Hook may refer to the present line up as "New
Odour" but this album has the sweet smell of success, and here we come to
the Elephant in the Room.
During the first three plays of this album, in the spaces
where I expected to hear melodic bass lines, there was nothing but spaces. I
actually started imagining the Hook Lines (excuse the pun) in my mind, but by
the fourth play it was clear they would never be coming.
Tom Chapman the current New Order bass player must be in
a Rock and a Hard place. On established New Order songs he has to replicate the
bass lines of Peter Hook. If he then used the same style on this New Album, it
could be levelled against him that he was nothing but a fraud, a carbon copy of
Hook but without the gravitas or history to replace one of the most enigmatic
bass players that that we have ever seen and heard, in one of most Iconic Bands
of all time. Instead Tom has decided to play his own game, not anybody else's.
The bass lines are there, but they are no longer the
focal point of the songs. Lower in the mix than before, unless of course you go
back to the album which famously Peter Hook slated with the words "what do
you call a New Order album without bass lines", answer
"Republic".
I first saw this band in Feb 1981, before anyone had
heard of a single New Order song. Being a New Order Fan for nearly 35 years, I
can say they have in equal measure, given my some of the greatest musical
highlights of my life, and some of the worst.
So many times I have thought the game was up, especially
during the many fall outs, splits and come back albums.This album shows that New Order are still a
viable band and unlike so many other bands who were good for two albums only,
this band are still producing songs that really matter, 35 years into their
existence. Take a listen to Nothing but a Fool, Superheated,Singularity, Plastic and you will realise that this
band are still ahead of the Game.
Dance Dance Dance to the Radio, or Plastic, the
choice is yours.
