New Order
Formed: 1980
Location: Salford, England
Genre: Post-Punk, Alternative Dance, Indie Rock, Synth-Pop
Years Active: 1980 - 1993; 1998 - 2007; 2011 -
Meaning of the Name: Describes a new band re-ordered from the ashes of Joy Division.
Core Members: Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, Gillian Gilbert, Stephen Morris
Way of Working: Collaborative
Associated: Joy Division
Essential Releases
Power, Corruption
& Lies (1983)
Eastablished a new identity as an electronic act distinct from Joy Division.
Low-Life (1985)
Combines rock and synths to great effect.
Technique (1989)
Recorded in Ibiza. Influenced by the burgeoning acid house scene.
Forged in the fire of Salford's industrial heartlands, New Order rose again like a phoenix from the flames of the morose Joy Division. Redefining themselves as the synth-driven kings of British indie dance their sound evolved from the nihilistic post-punk of their previous iteration into electronica influenced by the acid house of Spain's Balearic Islands.
Crucially, the metamorphosis following Ian Curtis' suicide didn't happen in a vacuum. It reflected a broader change in British culture during the premiership of Margaret Thatcher, whose policies made everyday life a grim reality in the poorer Northern cities. Facing stark conditions, people wanted to dance, to get high, and to forget about the dole office until Monday morning. The unemployment rate doubled between 1979 and 1982, to a post-war peak of 12%.
As a response, Factory Records supremo Tony Wilson used the royalties from New Order's music to open the now legendary Haçienda nightclub in Manchester during 1982. The band themselves were co-owners who sought to recoup their investment by packing the dancefloor. With such aims, they pivoted to make a unique type of dance music that retained the guitars and vocal style of their post-punk roots.
The Haçienda later played a key role in the ecstacy-fuelled Madchester movement of the late-'80s. When DJs such as Paul Oakenfold and Danny Holloway returned from stints in Ibiza, they came carrying a new form of dance music that would sweep the nation: acid house. Due to the success of New Order and other bands such as The Happy Mondays, the club became the epicentre of British rave.
To illustrate the impact of the new style, the only New Order albums to top the British chart were released during this period, Technique (1989) and Republic (1993). Both were influenced by acid house, with the former even being recorded in Ibiza to capture the genre's authentic sound.
The band consistently had their thumb on the pulse of the cultural moment, not only during the shift from punk to dance but also from dance to indie rock. After the guitar heavy Britpop exploded in the nineties, they pivoted again for their next release, coming full circle and returning to their roots.
Bernard Sumner's guitar work played a central role on their album Get Ready (2001). However, just like before, they retained key elements of the alternative dance they helped create, especially on select tracks. For example, the hit single 'Crystal' is a brilliant fusion of both styles and remains one of their best songs.
"I think if you take Get Ready, Waiting For The Siren’s Call, Lost Sirens — those three New Order albums were mostly guitar-based. There were a couple of dance tunes in there, but they were mainly guitar-oriented." (Bernard Sumner talking to Stereogum in 2015)
Marked by tragedy and transformation from the beginning, New Order proved themselves masters of reinvention, consistently staying relevant throughout a career in music that spanned decades.Skills
*This is a work in progress. Values are subjective.Emotional Impact
55
Mental Impact
60
Originality
95
Artistry
70
Authenticity
70
Live
90
Production
75
Musicianship
85
Singing
70
Songwriting
85
Danceability
85
Fun
75
Consistency
70
Range
95
Cool
65
Charisma
45
Commercial & Critical Success
Awards >>>
- BRIT Award WINNER! 1998 - True Faith - Silver in the UK
- Mercury Prize Nominee 1993 - Republic
Certifications >>>
- Power, Corruption & Lies - Best Video
Charts >>>
- Power, Corruption & Lies - #4 in the UK
- Low-Life - #7 in the UK
- Brotherhood - #9 in the UK
- Technique - #1 in the UK
- Republic - #1 in the UK; #5 in Australia
- Get Ready - #6 in the UK; #7 in Australia, Germany
- Waiting for the Sirens' Call - #5 in the UK
- Music Complete - #2 in the UK
Critics >>>
- NME: Technique - 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2013): #122
- NME: Power, Corruption & Lies - 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2013): #216
- Pitchfork: Power, Corruption & Lies - Best Albums of the 1980s: #28
- Q: Technique - Best Albums of the '80s: #21
- Rolling Stone: Power, Corruption & Lies - 100 Greatest Albums of the 1980s: #94
- Rolling Stone: Power, Corruption & Lies - 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2020): #262
