Formed in 1980 by the three surviving members of Manchester postpunk band Joy Division, following the suicide of their vocalist Ian Curtis, New Order went on to be one of the most influential British bands ever, and this month are visiting Cardiff Bay for their first Welsh show since 1985, with The Charlatans and CMAT supporting. But where to start with such a back catalogue? Joshua Williams has you covered, with five of the best New Order songs for the curious to check out ahead of the show.
1. Ceremony
One of the last songs written by Joy Division before Ian Curtis’s death, it fell to Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner to finish Ceremony, releasing it as New Order’s first single in 1981. (A second recording, released later that year, adds guitar from fourth New Order member Gillian Gilbert.) Though the song had been played by Joy Division live, it lacked a set of complete lyrics – Sumner finished them himself before recording – and Hook’s incredible bassline invoked feelings of what could have been if Curtis hadn’t died. Ceremony is still a mainstay in New Order sets.
2. Blue Monday
You can’t not mention Blue Monday when it comes to New Order: titanic electronic pop music, the biggest selling ever 12” single (1.16 million copies sold worldwide), one of the best songs of all time and one that will outlive us all. Starting with the instantly recognisable thumping of the drum machine, the seven-and-a-half-minute Blue Monday is the true bridge from the band’s postpunk material to the alternative dance they would become known for. Part of a brilliant run of non-album singles from the band – see also Temptation and Everything’s Gone Green – it’ll undoubtedly be played in Cardiff.
3. The Perfect Kiss
The Perfect Kiss was New Order’s ninth single, and first to be taken from a studio album (1985’s Low-Life) – however, this song’s brilliance is best represented by the 12” version, which at eight minutes and 46 seconds is nearly twice the length of the LP cut. It might even be better than Blue Monday: its use of sampling was ahead of its time, and the way it explodes into life is incredible. Technological limitations prevented The Perfect Kiss being played live for a long time, but it’s been a constant in the band’s set for a while now.
4. Crystal
The lead single from 2001’s Get Ready album, initially Crystal was not going to be a New Order song. Sumner originally gave it to a German record label, to be recorded by one of their artists, but when Pete Tong intervened – declaring it the band’s best song since Blue Monday – the vocalist changed his mind, and New Order recorded it instead. Beginning with a slow synth and dreamy vocals, Morris’ brilliant drums come in alongside Sumner’s guitar, with an alt-rock/dance banger resulting. Crystal’s video, depicting an imaginary band called The Killers, served as inspiration for a then-unnamed Las Vegas band; their frontman, Brandon Flowers, has since performed live with New Order and guested on their 2015 album Music Complete.
5. Plastic
After New Order played what seemed to be their last ever shows in 2006, Bernard Sumner and Phil Cunningham – who had joined New Order in 2001 following the departure of Gilbert – founded Bad Lieutenant. Hook started up Peter Hook And The Light, largely for the purpose of playing Joy Division and New Order songs live, and continues to tour. A New Order reunion in 2011, though, saw Gilbert return to the fold, bassist Tom Chapman replace Peter Hook, and the band’s first fully new album in a decade, the aforementioned Music Complete. Its second single, Plastic, is quintessential New Order, with La Roux’s Elly Jackson on backing vocals. A feature of most latter-day New Order sets, hopefully that’ll hold in Cardiff.
New Order, Alexandra Head, Cardiff Bay, Thurs 22 Aug.
Tickets: £55. Info: here
words JOSHUA WILLIAMS
