release date: May 3, 1993
format: cd (POCD-1110)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,18]
producer: New Order
label: London Records - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: 1. "Regret" (4 / 5) - 2. "World (The Price of Love)" - 3. "Spooky" - 6. "Young Offender"
6th studio album by New Order released on London Records. Rumor has it that New Order indirectly made their record company, Factory Records, collapse after enormous financial debts after producing this album. It's both a return to simple synthpop like on Low-Life (1985) and Brotherhood (1986) but also a full embrace of house and dance-pop.
It's the bands so far least interesting album - "Regret" is the exception - but it's also the first in a series of lesser albums, which in a way already indicate that the 90s really wasn't a prosperous decade for the band. After this release, most of the band members sought new partnerships and put their energy in various collaboration projects, while New Order was put on pause. The most successful side-project is possibly vocalist Bernard Sumner's project with ex-The Smiths guitarist, Johnny Marr named Electronic (1988-99). Another well-known project was keyboardist Gillian Gilbert and drummer Stephen Morris' project The Other Two (1990-99). The two were married later this year. Bassist Peter Hook took part in Revenge (1989-95) and Monaco (1995-2000). All side-projects has released several albums.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]
