release date: Nov. 1, 1981
format: cd (FACT 50)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,94]
producer: Martin Hannett
label: Factory Records - nationality: England, UK
Tracklist: A) 1. "Dreams Never End" (5 / 5) - 2. "Truth" - 3. "Senses" - 4. "Chosen Time" (4 / 5) - - B) 1. "ICB" - 2. "The Him" - 3. "Doubts Even Here" (4 / 5) - 4. "Denial"
Studio album debut by New Order released as FACT 50 on Factory Records and produced by Martin Hannett. Critics were hard on the remainders of Joy Division as they released this album. Everyone were anxious to hear what would come after the promising single release of "Ceremony". Instead of continuing as Joy Division (which was easy as 'only' one member was missing), vocalist Bernard Sumner, bassist Peter Hook, drummer Stephen Morris, and new band member keyboardist Gillian Gilbert chose a name change. But no matter what that would've signalled at the time, critics and fans would still have been curious to see what would happen with the remainders of Joy Division. "Can they still work together?", "Will they sound differently?", "Who will replace Curtis?", were just a few of the immediate questions. Curtis' "only" contribution in Joy Division was his lyrics and fantastic and mesmerising vocal, whereas the rest of the band was the true foundation of the music and in that drummer Steven Morris was the backbone. People tend to categorise the music of JD as dark and sinister, and as contrary of that of New Order. But the enormous progress from Warzaw (and Stiff Kittens), the debut album Unknown Pleasures and to the last singles "Love Will Tear Us Apart" and "Atmosphere" give you an idea of where it could've taken that band. The beauty and complexity of these last songs with Ian Curtis have much more in common with "Dreams Never End" and "Doubts Even Here" from this album (and "Leave Me Alone", my favourite song from Power, Corruption & Lies, 1983). Well, of course they would change their music - that's what they did all along! They always tried to be progressive and not repeat themselves - at least up until the beginning of their career as New Order. As mentioned initially, the critics were hard as this album had its release back in '81, but over time it's considered a cornerstone of modern music, just like the two studio albums by Joy Division, and the successive release, Power, Corruption & Lies (1983). Now, how many bands have made four successive albums with reviews like that?!
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5 ]
