New Order grow

Press, 4 July 1985, Page 18

New Order grow

NEW ORDER “Low-Life” (Factory FAC100B). DEAD OR ALIVE “Youthquake” (Epic ELPS4472) Allowing for a few stutters en route, like a generally unconvincing first LP and an ill-fated liason with the New York producer, Arthur Baker, New Order are finally growing into the band their illustrious past suggests. Their past, of course, is Joy Division, the Manchester band catapulted into fame with the suicide of their lead singer, lan Curtis. Joy Division won many friends with their sparse rock music, although many of these fans now find New Order’s muscular funk rather too tame, in spite of JD’s biggest hit, “Love Will Tear Us Apart,” showing that band moving towards a more accessible sound. But the old guard might just enjoy “Low-Life,” album number three from. New Order, because the rhythmic workouts have been largely dropped in favour of a more basic beat.

In fact, the band are dropping a lot of their old, rather pretentious image — actual band photos on the (excellent) sleeve! Audible lyrics! New Order come out of the closet at last . . . A lot of the credit must go to the vocalist and guitarist, Albrecht, who has made the most of his limited voice, and now gives the songs the authority they have sometimes lacked.

The songs are quite basic, often repeating a seemingly ordinary phrase until, suddenly, it all makes sense. For instance, the chorus from “Face Up” goes “Oh, how I cannot bear the thought of you,” a decidedly un-classic line that, combined with a big Stephen Morris drumbeat, and Albrecht’s confident drawl, somehow adds up to make great pop music — don’t ask me how! The eight songs (apart from a pompous instrumental on side two) are all good, from the rockist tendencies of “Sunrise” to the typically inviting single, “The Perfect Kiss.” A couple rank with “Your Silent Face” and “Temptation” as New Order’s best. “This Time Of Night” and “Sub-Culture” are two brooding classics, that would have sounded just as good on “Closer.” As pointed out by almost every reviewer, “Love Vigilantes” is an ambitious antiwar song that does not work, but overall “LowLife” is the most consistent New Order yet, making it all the more unfortunate their recent New Zealand tour was an Auckland-only affair. And following the ace single “You Spin Me Round” is “Youthquake” a surprisingly good debut from Pete Bums, and the new Dead Or Alive. This band have been around for a few years in England, but only since

their visual lead singer jumped on the electro bandwagon have they enjoyed success. Thankfully, Burns has a big, dramatic voice to go with his she-man image, and this LP is a rare success in a genre not noted for more than the odd great 12-inch single. This is not to say that “Youthquake” rivals “SgtPeppers,” but rather the raunch of “My Heart Goes Bang” or “DJ Hit That Button” than the paunch of Tears For Fears and the rest. “In Too Deep” is a slower song that takes on rival Boy-George, at his own soulful game, and scores a TKO, and most of this disc is great mindless pop that does for disco what the Ramones do to pop. After all, cheap thrills are still thrills — right? - TONY GREEN.