Dream Attack, the last song on Technique, I don't think had him on there at all, except for a few seconds at the end. He is also MIA on many songs from Republic, and True Faith and 1963. Unacceptable!
J
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It seems that between 1987 and 1993 Peter Hook was often underused
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It's well known that Hooky wasnae a big fan of True Faith "too Pet Shop Boys" I think was a quote used in the past. His bass wasnae half as prominent during Technique and Republic and he wasn't particularly happy about it, and funnily enough the band went their own ways for a bit after both albums came out.
Even though there's not enough of Hooky on Technique, it still remains my favourite NO album.
In fairness tho, both albums contain some astonishing Hooky, it's just way too fucking quiet. likewise TF.
I will say this much though, I LOVE the dance-bass hybrid of "Round and Round" and "Vanishing Point". On those two songs, at least Hook is clearly in the building, and particularly on the latter mentioned track, I think he really adds a wonderful dark element to it. I always wished that New Order would be able to better balance out Hook with the more dance oriented songs, which many seem to primarily rely on synthesizer bass.
J
It coincided with Stephen Hague taking over production duties. He admits he had never dealt with bass as a lead instrument before, and admits the bass on the 1963/True Faith sessions is too low in the mix. Republic was the same. I think with Bernard branching off into Electronic he didn't like the bass so high in the mix, making the sound less aggressive.
Find the extended version of R&R if only for Hooky's bass. I hate the way the bass is cut off on the Technique edit when it's in full flow.
Also, Hooky started playing even more melodic from 1987 onwards, using the high end almost exclusively, not driving songs like he used to. Listen to Monaco and True to Form by Hybrid, some great bass from early/mid-90s Hooky.
JV wrote: What do you mean he's missing from Dream Attack? Listen a bit closer...
The bass is really low in the mix though - as in, Hooky's melodic playing, not the bass sequencer. And when you listen to the bootlegs, there are bits he plays which were discarded from the final cut altogether.
AgentWood wrote: what about run? and i've always heard hooky's bass loud and clear in dream attack.
You sure you're not confusing Hooky with the bass sequencer? I think all the low notes you hear throughout the song are electronic, Hooky only making brief appearances on the high end.
Wasim wrote:
AgentWood wrote: what about run? and i've always heard hooky's bass loud and clear in dream attack.
You sure you're not confusing Hooky with the bass sequencer? I think all the low notes you hear throughout the song are electronic, Hooky only making brief appearances on the high end.
+1
Jiphy wrote:
Wasim wrote:
AgentWood wrote: what about run? and i've always heard hooky's bass loud and clear in dream attack.
You sure you're not confusing Hooky with the bass sequencer? I think all the low notes you hear throughout the song are electronic, Hooky only making brief appearances on the high end.
+1
that's what i mean--the high end. still hooky's bass, though, and it adds a lot to the song, IMO.
Have you heard any of the 89/93 bootlegs? Hooky's bass is far more prominent on Dream Attack live than it is on record. In fact, the bass drives the song on those Technique rehearsal sessions. I might upload some mp3s a little later to make the case.
Wasim wrote: Have you heard any of the 89/93 bootlegs? Hooky's bass is far more prominent on Dream Attack live than it is on record. In fact, the bass drives the song on those Technique rehearsal sessions. I might upload some mp3s a little later to make the case.
yes, i have pretty much all of the bootlegs from that period.
I def. agree that he was there, just a tad bit burried in the mix at times, esp. True Faith/1963/Republic, and a lot of songs (Round & Round, Dream Attack, etc.) are so steeped in bass sequencers that it overshadows his higher, more melodic work
Wasim wrote: It coincided with Stephen Hague taking over production duties. He admits he had never dealt with bass as a lead instrument before, and admits the bass on the 1963/True Faith sessions is too low in the mix. Republic was the same. I think with Bernard branching off into Electronic he didn't like the bass so high in the mix, making the sound less aggressive.
Hook's bass was one of the key things I noticed when I first got to know "True Faith," actually. I'm talking about those notes he plays early in the song. I was trying to figure out what instrument was playing those notes. (And I was just getting into New Order at the time and didn't know much about Hook as "unconventional bass player.")
