New Order - Technique
Ripped from a vinyl album released on Factory Records (FACT 275) in 1989 to high resolution 24-bit lossless flac audio. New Order's final album for Factory took an eternity to arrive and whilst many now list it as a favourite, for me it was a disappointment at the time. Of the singles since Brotherhood, True Faith and Bizarre Love Triangle were classics, whereas State Of The Nation, and Shellshock were just poor. State and Shell sounded rushed and although gorgeously packed, they lacked the creativity of the others. To me, this was a warning sign.
New Order were always masters of mixing melodic indie-guitar-pop and electronics, a combination which worked really well on Low-Life and then a little less so on Brotherhood. For me, the main flaw was Fine Time, a single which for me sounds like a cobbled together and unnecessary attempt at acid house. New Order had a formula which worked well, but I have always thought Fine Time should have been just left as a single and not allowed to open their fifth long player. In contrast, Round & Round is a return to form spoilt by a 12" version which took far too long to get going, thankfully the single and album versions were left alone. Vanishing Point is just great, like a sequel to True Faith, it would have made the perfect first single. Likewise, Mr Disco is the sequel to Bizarre Love Triangle. There are five guitar tracks on the album, of which All The Way stands out head and shoulders above the rest. Run 2 was an unusual choice of single, I can only assume that the band needed to reconnect with their core following after the disappointing performance of the preceding singles.
New Order found a lot of new fans with the success of True Faith and so for them Technique would have been their first New Order album. Hence I can understand why it features as the favourite of so many, however this grumpy old fan just didn't feel the same sense of elation as years previous when he heard PC&L and Low-Life for the first time.
A1 Fine Time
A2 All The Way
A3 Love Less
A4 Round & Round
A5 Guilty Partner
B1 Run
B2 Mr. Disco
B3 Vanishing Point
B4 Dream Attack
New Order - Fine Time
Ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Factory Records (FAC 223) in 1988 to high resolution 24-bit lossless flac audio.
A1 Fine Time
B1 Don't Do It
B2 Fine Line
New Order - Fine Time (Remix)
Ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Factory Records (FAC 223R) in 1988 to high resolution 24-bit lossless flac audio.
A1 Fine Time (Silk Mix)
B1 Fine Time (Messed Around Mix)
New Order - Round & Round
Ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Factory Records (FAC 263R) in 1989 to high resolution 24-bit lossless flac audio.
A1 Round & Round
B1 Best & Marsh
Ripped from a compact disc single released on Factory Records (FACD 263) in 1989 to high quality lossless flac audio.
1 Round & Round (Seven Inch)
2 Vanishing Point (Instrumental Making Out Mix)
3 Round & Round (Twelve Inch)
4 Best & Marsh (Seven Inch)
New Order - Round & Remix
Ripped from a mini compact disc single released on Factory Records (FACD 263R) in 1989 to high quality lossless flac audio.
1 Round & Round (Club Mix)
2 Round & Round (Twelve Inch Mix)
3 Round & Round (Detroit Mix)
New Order - Run 2
Ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Factory Records (FAC 273) in 1989 to high resolution 24-bit lossless flac audio.A1 Run 2
A2 Run 2 (Extended Version)
B1 MTO
B2 MTO (Minus Mix)
On reflection I tentatively agree, I had never thought of the importance of Side A track 1 on any album before, but when you consider that Dreams Never End, Age Of Consent and Love Vigilantes (plus even Paradise) were all opening tracks, Technique does lack that classic memorable opener.
ReplyDeleteWasn't expecting to see that lot turn up in one chunk. Very useful though. For years I thought I'd lost the NME Technique stickers that I had two sets of. They were inside the bloody album but were securely rescued before I sent it to you. Heh heh.
ReplyDeleteI like the album better than I did. I *always* liked Vanishing Point and it SHOULD have been the single. It's the stand out track.
- Penguinflight
It just seemed apt to squeeze them all into one post. ;-) I had forgotten about those stickers! Agree...Vanishing Point is by far the best track.
DeleteChameleons will be up by the weekend ....lots of Chameleons!
It was a very good idea, and much appreciated.
DeleteStickers...
https://www.mediafire.com/?aldqnn561linbsv
Chameleons Waaaah! :oD
- Penguinflight
Penguinflight, wow, what a weird coincidence, I had just re-discovered my pair of those stickers while back at my old home over the holiday. I have two as well. Did they come in pairs or something? I have no idea how I got them. I suspect Factory sent them to me during one of our correspondences, but don't really remember. -Damijan
DeleteCute little item isn't it? They were intended for the NME giveaway but there was only one set with each issue. I had my own set and a friend sent me his as he wasn't as rabid a NO fan as I was then.
DeleteStrange to have them and not physically have the album now, but it's gone to a great home and I have the music in better quality than I could source myself.
- Penguinflight
I am/was/always will be a Joy Division fan rather than a New Order one. Ceremony is still my favourite song of theirs and I didn't really follow them much beyond that, so you've given me a great opportunity to try and love them again. Thanks very much!
ReplyDeleteYeah, wasn't expecting this!
ReplyDeleteDream Attack is amazing as well. VP does feature on the Round and Round CD, in it's "Making Out" version (it was originally a Stephen and Gillian piece, and was written for that show, I believe.
While Technique musically was very much a product of its time, achieving a mixture of rock and electronics the band hasn't adhered to since, it's perhaps most notable for Bernard's lyrics, which were actually very good, and just as autobiographical as Ian Curtis...to wit, we have "It don't take no Houdini / To tell me what I am / Parasites and literasites /They'd burn me if they can" in All the Way...the same "literasites" would have a field day all the permutations of "Hey, man, what'cha doin'?"we get now...and in a brilliant play on the title "My life ain't no holiday / I've been through the point of no return / I've seen what a man can do / I've seen all the hate of a woman too" for Vanishing Point.
Just all-out brilliance, even Fine Time, though Blogmeister is not wrong in saying maybe it could have been left off, as they did have a couple of other song ideas kicking (these never got past instrumental form) and they could have buffed up "Let's Go" (with the 1987 vocals) to use as the intro track instead.
Thanks for this Christmas present!
ReplyDeleteFantastic! A classic post by Blogmeiter I would say....
ReplyDeleteI have only one single from the album, so I'm looking forward to hear it all.
By the way, I've wanted to contribute through "pay pal" but it's not anonymous. I even contacted their support and they've assured me it can't be done with anonymity. Do you know a way to contribute as anonymous?
Good album, but this :
ReplyDeleteFine Time
Round And Round
Vanishing Point
Dream Attack
...would have made for possibly the greatest EP in recorded history.
And Shellshock is "poor"? You must be listening to some different Shellshock than I am. Granted, it turned out to be a tarted up John Robie track from a few years previous, but still...one of their five best ever.
Music Lover: http://lifehacker.com/five-best-ways-to-send-money-to-other-people-online-1707846074
ReplyDeleteI guess you have your own reasons for not wanting to be identified...I'd guess you're somebody who may be somewhat known...intriguing...
Thank you for the link. Unfortunately, as far as I understand, they may be easy or fast, but not anonymous.
DeleteThere are many reasons to be anonymous on the web, you can find many links on the subject with a web search.
Any links on this page will be pulled very shortly as somebody keeps linking my blog on Facebook. ESWA survives by keeping below the radar and the traffic generated by social media is bound to bring unnecessary attention. :-(
ReplyDelete:(
Delete>:(
Delete:-( just got back from 4 days away from home and the net. Seems too late :( twp
DeleteConfusion. Too Late. Shellshock. Cries And Whispers.
DeleteThank you! :-)
ReplyDeleteDamn ! Too late. Thanks for posting on FB, you ..........! :(
ReplyDeleteWell, seeing Peter Hook playing Joy Division in Australia about five years ago was one of my worst concert experiences. Speaking as someone who bought the numbered JD 12" singles when they first came out (and no, LWTUA is not for sale). Enjoying JD and NO doesn't mean one has to lose one's critical faculties while doing so.
ReplyDeleteA shame to miss out on the one NO 12" I don't have in the collection. Thanks for nothing, NO lovers!