Our band for this week is New Order, a leader in the dance and electronic music scene throughout the 1980s. The band was a predecessor to the famous Joy Division, who started their legendary career under the name Warsaw. Debuting in 1977, Warsaw started by playing gigs with local London bands. In 1978 the group’s name was changed to the iconic Joy Division to prevent confusion with a band called Warsaw Pakt.
The newly named Joy Division made their official musical debut the same year with their first EP, An Ideal For Living. During their speedy advance into the music industry, lead singer Ian Curtis was diagnosed with epilepsy and suffered extreme seizures throughout the band’s history. Their second album Closer was the band’s big break in the music industry. The same year as Closer’s release, Curtis’s seizures became uncontrollable and he attempted to take his own life. A month after Curtis’s attempt, Joy Divison was slotted for their first US/Canada, the evening before the band was supposed to depart for the US, Curtis was discovered deceased from suicide in his home on 18 May 1980. The death of Curtis efficiently ended Joy Division…or so they thought.
New Order was formed in 1980 containing three of the former Joy Division members, Peter Hook, Bernard Sumner, and Stephen Morris, and a new edition of Gillian Gilbert. Their biggest hit and the album that we’ll be talking about today is Power, Lies, And Corruption released in 1983. This was the album that pulled the band together style-wise, it was here that they found their footing by mixing electronica with traditional rock instrumentals. In 1992 the record company that they were producing under, Factory Records filed for bankruptcy and the members split into other musical groups. The group reformed in 1998 then broke up once more in 2007 and grouped up once again in 2011. The band is still together today and has been releasing new music.
Power, Corruption, And Lies ( 1983 ):
With most artists, most people will tell you to start by listening to the first album: however, for New Order, I would recommend beginning with their 1983 album Power, Corruption, & Lies spanning a grand 43 minutes with eight tracks. The album is beautiful and although I think some songs are better than others this is a no-skip album. The album features a post-punk electronica sound with a hint of early house from the band’s exploration of the New York City dance scene. The album gained mass praise from the press at the time of its release and is considered to be one of the best albums of the 1980s. This is why I think it is the perfect album to begin your journey through New Order, it gives you an introduction to their interesting and unique musical arrangements without being too overpowering. The album touches on multiple different genres so there’s something for everyone, but in specific if you enjoy the modern indie genre, you will love this record. Maybe you’re not a full album listener type? Lucky for you, Power, Corruption, & Lies has some standout tracks for you to enjoy.
Age Of Consent:
My first recommendation is Age Of Consent, the album’s opening track. Opening on a lighthearted guitar solo that takes you back to the days of summer spent roasting in the heat during golden hour. It’s a song that screams “Coming of Age” movie to me, to further this point, a cover of it was included in the popular film To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before. It’s about a troubled relationship where the narrator of the song wants to leave an unhealthy relationship but neither he nor his partner attempt to end their partnership, which lines up perfectly with the overall theme of this record. It is one of New Order’s most popular tracks with the band having played it over 287 times in live concerts ( The song took a break for over twenty-two years between 1989 and 2011 which only makes this record crazier ).
The Village:
If Age Of Consent isn’t your thing, no problem. Try The Village, the third track on the record instead. Another similar upbeat-sounding song, The Village harnesses more of a synth-pop or electronica-sounding instrumentals throughout the song. The track features stand-out gorgeous guitar riffs which put it above some of the other tracks on the album. Some of the lyrics roll like poetry off of your lips when singing such as, “Our love is like the flowers, the rain, the sea, and the hours.” The lyrics are reminiscent of an era of sweet teenage romance, where love is all around you and memories will never fade.
Leave Me Alone:
If you’re looking for something of a different feel, my last standout track pick is Leave Me Alone, again another indie song, there is an air of sadness and somberness to the last track of the album. Great albums often use this approach of the last song being built up throughout the album and it feels like the end of the world once you finish. With so many tracks of Power, Corruption, & Lies being more lighthearted in lyrics and sound, Leave Me Alone not only embraces the track’s differences but brings a bittersweet end to the powerful record.
Although New Order has seemingly vanished in the 21st century even with the rise of the indie music industry. Their early work in electronic and dance music has inspired many popular and familiar artists today such as CHVRCHES, LCD Soundsystem, and Arcane Fire.
