the problem isn't really the production or the quality of sumner's voice... that's just the sound... maybe it is a bit monochrome and lifeless, but i have no doubt that that's exactly what they were looking for. even if they weren't looking for it, it is what they achieved. (and just listen to the keyboard's range).
never-the-less, it is one of the new order albums i listen to the least. i seem to listen to it more when i'm on a joy division kick (which happens very rarely...) like plenty of joy division, the songwriting on movement is less about melody than it is about atmosphere. it's almost more joy division than some joy division, if you know what i mean.
i do love moments, like 1:20 and 3:00 into "senses," when that multi-tracked guitar part comes in for about 15 seconds and completely changes the flavor of the proceedings. very nice. even if they were being a bit tentative on this album, new order was trying new stuff out.
no other album from the period really sounds like this. it's a strange beast.
Why they hate so much “MOVEMENT”? I like that album.
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I think MH's production on Movement is fantastic, it totally befits the songs and the album has an incredible mood which really hasn't been replicated by any of the following albums, except possibly PCL. Some of the effects in the production work really well, for instance the noises and effects on Senses where things come in and out and the string synths are eerily apt acroos the whol album. I think Dreams Never End is possibly one of the weaker songs they have done, what a fantastic intro but it rapidly descends into repetition.
Movement sounded like little else at the time, though I do agree with Al Jarvis that most of the songs would sound pretty dated now. But why should that matter at a gig? Truth - Bring it on!
johnny james wrote:
but that burundi drumshit dried up with BowWowWow and Adam's Ants
...like Atmosphere?
Er, that's hardly the full-on sensory assault of the two bands I just mentioned, now is it? Just as Denial was, as well.
Movement is one of my favourite albums of all time, mainly because of the supressed anger/sadness that comes through. I actually really like the production on it, but each to their own 
personally speaking, coz its shite. PC&L and New Order went up a major notch after Movement had been moved off the shelf and into the bargain bin and second hand record shops.
to be honest in 1980 as a 17yr old that had been into punk for 3 years,i didnt give a fuck about PRODUCTION
of course its not very polished but there was and always will be something unusual and magical about movement
bansheeman wrote: to be honest in 1980 as a 17yr old that had been into punk for 3 years,i didnt give a fuck about PRODUCTION of course its not very polished but there was and always will be something unusual and magical about movement
Exactly my thoughts!
Can Barney really sing that low? I could've swore I read somewhere that his vocal range was distorted so that it would be in Ian's range. Makes sense why his voice keeps on cracking on Taras.
As far as Movement goes, aside from production, I find it a very boring record. Not much variety and it doesn't really go anywhere. The singles at the time, though, sounded far superior, which is why I was surprised Movement sounded so dull.
to see what is wrong with movement, just give factus8 a spin, and think of what could have been.
There is nothing wrong with Movement, it is a wonderful record.
Those who dislike it inevitably got into the band later on. The band went through quite a change of mood and direction post Temptation, making Movement seem quite an oddity in retrospect.
Actually, I'm defending the band. I downloaded it last week and I couldn't get into it. It sounds like Bernard's straining his vocal cords trying to sound like Ian. I just can't get into it...
Al Jarvis wrote: There's fcuk all on this album which would work live now though, eh? Dreams Never End is a classic. Beyond that ... what? Chosen Time, maybe, at a push. Rest of it would sound too dated. Denial was my stonewall favourite of this for years, but that burundi drumshit dried up with BowWowWow and Adam's Ants.
Would like to see DNE again though, just to see Hooky (even more) in the limelight.
well point taken al,as the tracks stand i can understand your comments but seeing how new order always seem to breath life into songs when played live,can you honestly say that if they delivered a corking rendition of icb or senses,chosen time even in any future gig you wouldnt at least smirk to yourself and think "oh yeah"?.
not if the second to last performance ever of Chosen Time is anything to go by (they improved on the travesty for it's last ever outing)
Fuckin AAAdore Dreams Never End.The rest...well its happy go lucky enough...But really I have'nt listen to the rest of Movement in 10+years,so I can't give any fresh thoughts..But I can remember it being saved, only by the freakin wonderful DNE.YEEEAAS.Movement mirrors Republic for me,and not in style.They had only one pearl of a song on each IMO.
