New Order are individuals, but still a band. They are extrovert, but shy. They challenged the music industry and both won and lost. If this is your first encounter with New Order and I have only made you think "huh?" then be prepared to remain confused. You will never fully understand them or their music; I don't think even the band themselves understand.
One minute you can be listening to the emotional and "love lost" words of 1963 your mind fully in focus with Bernard's words, certain that you understand the message......and then
you're not so sure. Is it really about love? Or is it about family? Please don't ask me 'cause I don't know. Oh, and if you ever get the chance to put the question to any of the band, then maybe that wouldn't be such a good idea. As I said before I don't think they know either.
Do we need to understand? Maybe, maybe not. I feel a variety of emotions when I listen to the music, but would I feel any more emotional, any more fulfilled, any more content if I really new what the song was about? I doubt it. Who said "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"? I don't really care, but it applies to this music in the same way. There really is no "right or wrong" interpretation; no "correct" answer. Just appreciate the music for what it is....vibrations in the air. Don't query why you like it or what it means. But if you must, then don't expect your answer to be the same as mine.
Listen to the music and be transported to a far-awat land. Close your eyes and like me "get this feeling I'm in motion". But don't expect there to be many literal interpretations like this (if that is what this is). Be ready to let the sounds wash over you, and through you. Hear the bass, the drum machine, feel the warmth and the cold, and allow the strained words to form pictures in your head. Don't let yourself make any snap judgements, this music becomes increasingly familiar, increasingly savoured, and increasingly loved as you listen.
My first experience of New order was in 1989, when I listened to Substance. I borrowed a copy from a friend (cheers Paul Wells), and enjoyed the music. It was a few more years until I finally bought myself a copy of this collection of innovative, and timeless tracks.
1990 saw the football World Cup finals in Italy, in wich England hoped to do well after the agony of losing to Argentina in the 1986 World Cup quarter final in Mexico. Maybe Maradonna's handball even inspired New Order's "Touched By The Hand of God". Either way, New Order achieved their only No. 1 in the UK (to date), with "World in Motion", the official World Cup song of the England team. Football fever gripped the country as England reached the semi-final, 6 years before they were to do it again in a carbon copy against Germany in Euro '96.
Now as football team songs go, this one really wasn't bad at all, even with Gazza's attempts at singing! I actually prefer it to "Three Lions" by the Lightening Seeds, but then I would wouldn't I! The most memorable part of the video and also the song has to be John Barnes rapping. The video featured the group, and some of the players, and also the English comedian Keith Allen. Rumours circulated at one point that Gillian could even be seen smiling in the video, but freeze frame has as yet proved inconclusive. Keith Allen, who has also featured in Blur's "Country House" video, co-wrote "World in Motion" with the band. This is about the only comparison between New Order and Blur you are likely to hear. Apparently Bernard's knowledge of football wasn't so good; surprising considering that the group come from Manchester! The video was shown on Top of The Pops with a live link to the players relaxing in Italy. Gazza was smiling and joking in the interview, ironic considering how the competition was going to end for him.
1990 was the year I finally got a CD player, and bought as my first CD, "Technique". It was a couple more years before the band released a new album, and when they did it didn't go down too well. "Republic" was their first release on a mainstream record label following the demise of Factory. The album contained several single releases, the most memorable of which was "Regret", which featured the band Live via Satellite on Top of The Pops. Whether it was actually live I don't know, but it did feature David Hasselhoff on the beach posing as his "Baywatch" character
Mitch Bucannan.
Following "Republic", in 1994, the band released "The Best of" a compilation of tracks some of which were newer versions and were released as singles. "Blue Monday" had another outing in the charts, as did "True Faith", and "1963". These three tracks are in my opinion the finest examples of the bands music.
An interesting note about BlueMonday apart from it being my favourite song of all time, is that it was originally only ever available as a 12" single. This, and the fact that it was so ground breaking, and has stood the test of time, has made it the best selling 12" single ever. It would have gone gold easily had Factory records been party to the organisation that measures record sales. Another worthy mention is that Blue Monday was the first release by the band using a drum machine.
"Rest of" followed shortly after and was full of re-mixes by various people. More of an acquired taste, but still worth having especially if you can get hold of the version with the extra CD of "Blue Monday" re-mixes.
Even though the band have not officially broken up, nothing new has been seen since. Rumours are circulating that with the iminent performance at Phoenix, a tour and album maybe on the way. Let's hope so. A New order greatest hits/box set has also been rumoured since the end of last year. This will hopefully happen, especially since the start-stop-start release of the "Joy Division" box set at the beginning of 1998.
Bernard has continued with his writing along with Johnny Marr of "The Smiths", in their band "Electronic", and released a second album "Raise The Pressure", in 1996. Hopefully we should see a third album sometime this summer/autumn, as new material has reportedly been written.
Peter Hook found time when not arguing with his (ex) wife "Mrs Merton" (Caroline Hook/Aherne), to release an album with his new group "Monaco". This album "Music For Pleasure" was excellent, with Hooky at his best. His new partner Potsy, does sound eerily like Bernard, although this is no bad thing.
The other two haven't had any new releases in their guise as "The Other Two", but have got married to each other, and had a child.
Written mid-June 1998
In the 15 months that have passed since I wrote that, things have changed quite a lot within the New Order family.
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