release date: Sep. 25, 2015
format: cd (CDSTUMM390)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]
producer: New Order
label: Mute Records - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: 1. "Restless" - 2. "Singularity" - 3. "Plastic" - 8. "Nothing But A Fool" (4 / 5) - 9. "Unlearn This Hatred" (4 / 5) - 11. "Superheated"
10th studio album by a re-united New Order following 2½ years after Lost Sirens (Jan. 2013) is here on a new label, and with the introduction of a new line-up after what was never announced an official break-up, although, founding member, bassist Peter Hook in 2007, upon his departure, declared that he and Bernard Sumner were no longer making music together. On the other hand, an official New Order statement promptly stated that the band would continue with or without Hook; however, both Hook and Sumner founded new bands in 2007 and in 2009 Sumner then argued that he would not make music again with New Order. So, although there never really was an official disbandment, the band was practically dead by 2009 [about the split, see: here - here - here - here - here - and here].
New Order's last studio album, Lost Sirens from 2013 was actually recorded 9-10 years prior to its release and basically only consisted of outtakes from the studio recording sessions for the album Waiting for the Sirens' Call (Mar. 2005).
In this new formation of the band, Bernard Sumner still handles lead vocals and is also credited for playing guitar, keyboards, and synthesizers. Likewise, Stephen Morris is the band's usual drummer and percussionist. He also handles keyboards, synthesizers, and is credited for drum programming. After Hook's departure, the band has welcomed back Morris' wife Gillian Gilbert, who once again plays keyboards and synthesizers. Phil Cunningham, who was brought in to replace Gilbert, and who has been a band member since 2002, plays guitars, keyboards, synthesizers, and is in addition credited for electronic percussion. Tom Chapman, replacing Hook, is the newest member, who fills the part as the band's primary bassist, but he also handles keyboards, synthesizers and is credited for backing vocals. Several prominent guest musicians feature on the album. Tom Rowlands of The Chemical Brothers has produced and co-written two of the tracks (tracks #2 & #9). Lead vocalist of The Killers, Brandon Flowers, has co-written and feature on "Superheated". La Roux (now synonymous for Elly Jackson) is credited for additional vocals on two tracks on the album (tracks #4 & #5), and Iggy Pop appears on "Stray Dog".
Soundwise, this is unmistakably New Order, but for once the band has not only reproduced its own back catalogue - which have come to mind on a few occasions looking closer at the albums from 1991 to 2011 - but the band has broadened and updated its sound to a more modern / contemporary expression. Sumner sounds like Sumner, which is a distinct quality of its very own kind and a thing you wouldn't replace, and Morris adds his usual great skills to the basics, which may be the band's biggest asset. On top of that, synths, keyboards and bass-lines provide a fine spatial dynamic soundscape rarely heard of by New Order, and that really says something. La Roux, Iggy Pop, and Flowers don't really provide the music with much extra on this. Actually, I think, the only really fine contributing guest artist is that of Tom Rowlands.
Music Complete is easily bettering the band's last four albums and literally reaching back to redefine what many think of New Order as a band belonging to, defining, but also a band stuck in the 1980s. With the 1990s, and the first decade of the new millennium, New Order had basically taken an artistic de-route, in so far that after many years with lesser albums, this manifestation, is a surprising and uplifting 'new order' of the band many of us had buried in a glorious past.
Recommended.
