release date: Oct. 3, 2005
format: 2 cd
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: New Order and various
label: London Records - nationality: England, UK
A compilation album by New Order consisting of single releases only. The album consists of 31 tracks released as (primarily 7'') singles in the span of two decades from 1981-2005. The band has released several Best of albums over the years starting off with Substance (1987), and they all contain different track lists. With the band's extensive back catalogue it's hard to pick one of these as the best 'cause they all miss out on great tracks, but I really like this one, which is not an attempt to pick the most popular tracks but simply to document all single releases in one album. Except from showcasing some of their greatest moments, the album also enlists the tracks in the order of their release, so the listener upon hearing the different tracks may come to terms with how the band progressed from post-punk influences into synth pop and alt. dance with various electronic elements, which is quite nice.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, NME 4,5 / 5 stars ]
