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Total From Joy Division To New Order was released last year.  Unless you absolutely must have the mediocre Hellbent (recorded in 2005) it’s pointless.  Four New Order singles collections had already been released – and there are even more Joy Division compilations (which is ridiculous because Joy Division only released two albums).  If you want EVERYTHING by Joy Division, you should try finding Heart And Soul (the comprehensive four-disc box set).  A good overview of New Order is also available, as a four-disc box set (Retro).  If you just want the singles, they are all included on Singles (a double-disc set which was released shortly before the band officially split).

After Ian Curtis killed himself, the remaining members of Joy Division became New Order (and the drummer’s girlfriend joined them on keyboards).  Movement was released in 1981.  It isn’t particularly impressive – especially when compared with everything the band released over the next two decades.  Blue Monday marked a significant change of direction for New Order – from dark and miserable to (relatively) light and upbeat.  The band fused disco music with guitars!  That caught everyone’s attention.  New Order may have lost some of the original Joy Division fans, but there was a whole new audience eagerly awaiting the next move.  The second album (Power, Corruption & Lies) was the turning point.  Bernard Sumner had found his true voice – and was developing his skills with synthesizers.

By the end of 1985, New Order was officially a pop group (albeit an ‘alternative’ one).  For the first time, songs from the album (Low-life) were actually released as singles (albums and singles had previously been kept separate).  Shellshock (which was included on the Pretty In Pink soundtrack) confirmed the band’s pop credentials.  The guitars are more prominent on Brotherhood (most of the album has a ‘live’ feel to it) – with the notable exception of Bizarre Love Triangle.  A compilation of every 12″ single was released in 1987.  The exclusive songs (True Faith and 1963) are both fantastic.  Later in the year, a surprise single appeared.  Touched By The Hand Of God is another great New Order song.  Blue Monday was re-released the following year (remixed by Quincy Jones).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbMdStYnN4w

Some of the material for Technique was recorded in Ibiza, where the band drew inspiration from the house music being played in the clubs.  Back in Manchester, The Hacienda (nightclub part-owned by New Order) was also playing a lot of house music.  The bulk of the album was recorded at Peter Gabriel’s Real World studio.  Technique is a mixture of euphoric dance music and acoustic songs (roughly in equal measure).  After a break of four years, during which time the individual band members embarked on separate side-projects, the patchy Republic was released.  Internal frictions had clearly affected the music – and the collapse of Factory Records hadn’t helped.  The following year, New Order split up.

There was a reunion concert in 1998.  The revitalised Mancunians returned with Get Ready in 2001.  A short tour followed.  The band recorded a brand new track for the film Twenty Four Hour Party People.  Here To Stay was produced by The Chemical Brothers.  New Order’s final album (Waiting For The Sirens’ Call) was released in 2005.  It was a disappointment.  After the official split, Bernard Sumner formed Bad Lieutenant and released one album.  Stephen Morris (the drummer) also worked on some of the songs.  He and Gillian Gilbert (now his wife) have done a couple of remixes for Nine Inch Nails.  Peter Hook’s band (Freebass) released a few EPs and an album.  He also wrote a book about the Hacienda.  He is now interfering with the impending release of Lost Sirens (a mini-album containing eight songs which were recorded in 2005, but not included on Waiting For The Sirens’ Call).

Total From Joy Division To New Order contains five Joy Division songs: Transmission, Love Will Tear Us Apart, Isolation, She’s Lost Control and Atmosphere.  Heart And Soul is another great Joy Division song.  If you would like to learn more about Joy Division, I recommend the Joy Division documentary on DVD.  It features interesting interviews with each band member and many others who were closely involved with the band.

New Order is currently on tour (check out www.newordernow.net for more information).  In fact, tonight the band will be playing at the venue where I once saw the old New Order (when Hooky was still a member).

Five more essential New Order songs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUjUTG3hwyQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS7tFKNlyXc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kHgMvWmIs4

Further listening

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJfGSAtBaB4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8vgYzOVfOY