733 New Order - Substance (1987)

 733 New Order - Substance (1987)

Compilation Album (double) - Electro-dance/Alternative Rock.



About the Act:

In 1980, Ian Curtis, the frontman of Joy Division, an alternative rock band from the UK, took his own life. The remaining three members decided they wanted to carry on as a band, but in Joy Division they had had a pact that if any one member left, they would not continue to use the name. Therefore, with a partial change of members, they morphed into New Order. 

After pursuing guitar-based rock for a while they got interested in electronic music, and became one of the foremost proponents of electronic dance music, and a formative band for the emerging Manchester scene which exploded in popularity in the 90s, and in turn was part of the foundations for Britpop.

They have had several studio albums, and a couple of breaks.

About the Album:

This album is a compilation predominantly of their 12" single releases and the b-sides. It is well-regarded.

My History with this Album:

None, but obviously, I know some of the tracks.

Review:

There are really two kinds of track on this album, alternative rock guitar-based stuff and electro-dance tracks. There is some fluidity between the two. This is kind of a documentation of the band up to this point, which is 7 years.


I've never really rated New Order, and before that Joy Division. I think some people have made a big thing out of New Order, and I think I know why, because to some extent they were in the forefront of 12" single dance track phenomenon that happened in the 80s, with people like Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Bronski Beat. They were also effectively the forefront of the Manchester club scene, so I get that also.

I have to be honest, I found the guitar-based stuff to be pretty pants, out-of-tune and uninspired. There is some focus on the bass, but even that is quite shoddy at times. The electronic stuff was better, and there is an embracing of the machine-like qualities that comes with it that is a sound in itself, that "I've got a drum machine so I'm going to sing a bit like a robot" thing, which actually works well for dance, sometimes. Compared with the rest of the album, Blue Monday is a breath of fresh air, it is well produced, and of course well-known, and over the years I have grown to enjoy it (although I still think some people over-rate it). I also quite like True Faith, the last track.

By the end I felt a bit New-Ordered-out, but I do acknowledge that I tapped my feet at times and even occasionally sang along.

6.5/10


Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/6iHuSGy6pq4tNGFV3ZVPtl

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkaacF29KT7wqLjnr5hJKivrrtNbCyJyN

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substance_1987



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