New Order- technique (remaster)

i always thought this album should have been called 'lack of technique' or 'easy song writing technique's or something a little more clear about what it was..

after succesfully breaking up, new order decided for some reason to get back together and give it another try....and oh how we suffered for it...

what is easily one of the most cliche ridden, pop-tastic, and formulaic albums ever conceived, in a way, it's more PSB than they are...its a product, and that's what it sounded like..

i heard the advance mixes on cassette before the album came out, and could hardly believe it was new order, all traces of the group i knew were gone...where's the bass, the offkey singing, the odd lyrics...

everything was washed off in a crushing wave of over production, glitz, and totally demoralizing studio sheen..... not one errant note, not one original sound, nothing left..

the disintegration of new order was complete by now..

So lets talk about specifics: for the album

1. its hard to mess up the bland sound of the original album, since its so processed in the first place...so the remaster surprisingly doesn't really sound any better than the original cd...

2. well if you want a variety of sounds to listen to, listen to 'fine time', as it puts the various frequencies through their paces, they all come out fine..

I'm listening through altec-lansing speakers, and also through headphones

3. the acousticy version of 'run' give you an idea of the quieter parts, and they hold up too..

4. Tracks are complete and not missing parts, no glitches, or stutters.

The bonus disc:

1. a uniform, and pretty uneventful set of tracks chosen here from the myriad of edits/remixes/versions that were actually released

2. again, the sound quality is pretty bad in a few cases, with glitches, pops and clicks...

3. suprisingly run2 is actually run2 (remix), and correct..

4. even more surprising is the inclusion of MTO -well actually the minus mix....another track you'd never thought you would get around to hearing...

5. basically, you're getting a lot of instrumentals, that might as well be elevator music if you really listen to them..

===================================================

no, i can't recommend this, not for the album, not for the remaster, not for the bonus disc...

there's not one iota of what 'new order' stood for, what they represented, or what they were..

don't get it, you've been warned..'run' don't walk away from this one..

unless you want a snapshot of late 80's, and early 90's cliched styles (techno/acid/folksy guitar work/etc)

no truer lyrics from 'new order' were spoken -> 'the picture you see, is no portrait of me' - round and round

RIP new order... we hardly knew you...

later -1

Get fucked

This album is absolutely fantastic. It combines the guitars and synths that made New Order what they were, but in a more modern version, particularly at this time, as the house scene was taking off. You can't diss Bernard's lyrics here unless you diss them all.

I seriously question your judgement -1, saying that the perfect kiss remastered edition sounds fine when it is full of pops and crackles that make it sound like there's a extra drum beat in there.

-1 wrote: ...'run' don't walk away from this one...

RIP new order... we hardly knew you...

later -1

Yeah, typical, if you wouldn't do it for yourself in a better quality, it wouldn't be any good...

http://chronovisor.blogspot.com/2008/09/decadence-of-80s-part-44.html

cheers,

|cv|

-1 still bonkers after all these years

Even if Technique isn't somebody's FAVOURITE New Order album (which I think for many many people it is) if you hate it as much as the reviewer does, I really don't see how he would like any of their work.

It's textbook New Order if not total genius.

It's their best album.

mark reed wrote: It's their best album.

Agreed!

It's only my opinion, but Technique was New Order's greatest achievement LP wise, musically, lyrically, and they managed to encapsulate the whole "Acid House" period in 40 minutes of vinyl, alongside a few other artists releases from the same period. A great achievement. Low Life and PCL were great too, but Technique for me was New Order's strongest and most coherent album.

-1 wrote: no truer lyrics from 'new order' were spoken -> 'the picture you see, is no portrait of me' - round and round

RIP new order... we hardly knew you...

Yeah no lyrics about penis :(

I see -1 published his review on Amazon...

Pash wrote: I see -1 published his review on Amazon...

Well, most reviews on Amazon are drivel....

hey to each their own..

i'll admit it, i'm not worried about how other people perceive it.. if you like it, more power to you.....

but seriously, look back at their first 3 albums, and tell me that didn't define 'new order' mark I ...

don't you think something was lost after their breakup?

why do they go so far off-track with their second incarnation? it's like listening to a totally different band?

if i wanted smooth synths, jangly guitars, and laid back lyrics, i would listen to the 'pet shop boys', 'erasure', etc..

i think its fitting that they include a mix of 'world in motion' as the very last track to demonstrate the culmination of the 'new order' sound for the end of the 80's, beginning of the 90's....

pure 100% pop, and a complete smash hit as their only number 1 hit...

no, not the 'perfect kiss', not 'blue monday', not 'temptation...

'world in motion' indeed..

think about that..

i would like to see how others review this album, and not just say that its good, or its their best.. but EXPLAIN why..

i'll read everyones review... it may not convince me, but it would be interesting...

i might have thought new order died in 1987.. but apparently a lot of you thought there was still life in them..

(and as a future note, i'm expecting even less with 'republic', 'get ready' and 'waiting for the sirens call' album + unreleased sessions)..

thanks for all the comments...

later -1

Technique was my favourite album - it's the album I listen to most nowadays...

As for the comment:

"there's not one iota of what 'new order' stood for, what they represented, or what they were.."

Bollocks...

-1

Why do you spend SO MUCH TIME analyzing and moaning about how few tracks have been remastered and released on CD, when you stopped liking the band 22 years ago???

What does it matter if umpteen bloody mixes haven't been rereleased on CD if you ain't liked the band since 1986???!!

Go out and get some fresh air and play for a while!

You remind me of a certain AJ Wells back in the Ceremony mailing list days...

Andy

Mr Discography wrote: -1

Why do you spend SO MUCH TIME analyzing and moaning about how few tracks have been remastered and released on CD, when you stopped liking the band 22 years ago???

What does it matter if umpteen bloody mixes haven't been rereleased on CD if you ain't liked the band since 1986???!!

Go out and get some fresh air and play for a while!

You remind me of a certain AJ Wells back in the Ceremony mailing list days...

Andy

why is anyone here? am i the first person to complain? hardly.. if you're going to review a dead band, you need to look at the complete picture.. all their good points and bad ones..

this is one of them..

by the way, i don't like their albums, but some of the remixes they've put out recently are actually pretty decent...

later -1

Except you don't seem to realise that your opinion is not necessarily shared by others...

Well based on this I'm now convinced that -1 talks through his arse. I wasn't sure before but this is grade A proof. And he's deaf.

[quote user="-1after succesfully breaking up, new order decided for some reason to get back together and give it another try....and oh how we suffered for it...

what is easily one of the most cliche ridden, pop-tastic, and formulaic albums ever conceived, in a way, it's more PSB than they are...its a product, and that's what it sounded like..-1

It sounds more like he's reviewing republic

Mr Discography wrote: -1

Why do you spend SO MUCH TIME analyzing and moaning about how few tracks have been remastered and released on CD, when you stopped liking the band 22 years ago???

What does it matter if umpteen bloody mixes haven't been rereleased on CD if you ain't liked the band since 1986???!!

Go out and get some fresh air and play for a while!

You remind me of a certain AJ Wells back in the Ceremony mailing list days...

Andy

Nah, he reminds me of -1 from the Ceremony mailing list days. Who could forget the endless posts about the International 2 'project'? Now all this talk about Remasters redux and his ears have pricked up again...

Honestly, I just don't understand how one could be soooo anal about a band whose music you haven't enjoyed since 20 years ago? Slagging off Technique in your so-called Final Review - your prerogative but shows a shocking grasp of New Order's development - is the final straw.

I'll defo buy Technique and Brotherhood for the remasteration. Not sure if it's worth the excess dosh shelling for the rest...

Nick King wrote: Technique was my favourite album - it's the album I listen to most nowadays...

As for the comment:

"there's not one iota of what 'new order' stood for, what they represented, or what they were.."

Bollocks...

where's gillian keyboards/guitar work? -> totally programmed, and generic

where's hooky's bass? -> minimized completely

what happened to the drumming -> drum computers

what about bernards vocals -> completely neutered into a clean smooth sound..

that's what i meant..

it was almost like a precursor to 'electronic'.. which i actually don't mind since it's a different band..

later -1

Wow...-1, you couldnt be more wrong about this album.

Reading your review, I genuinely thought it was a joke, like somebody was writing the most idiotic and sneering review possible. I kept waiting for the punchline and realised you were serious.

I don't know how anyone could like New Order and not show some appreciation for this album. It's fucking brilliant.

FtotheDoubleOff wrote: Wow...-1, you couldnt be more wrong about this album.

Reading your review, I genuinely thought it was a joke, like somebody was writing the most idiotic and sneering review possible. I kept waiting for the punchline and realised you were serious.

I don't know how anyone could like New Order and not show some appreciation for this album. It's **** brilliant.

and i keep waiting for someone to actually reply,

and give their review, and explain what they mean..

and say why they think its so good..

i have yet to see anyone reply..

will you try? no one else seems to be able to..

later -1

-1 wrote:

FtotheDoubleOff wrote: Wow...-1, you couldnt be more wrong about this album.

Reading your review, I genuinely thought it was a joke, like somebody was writing the most idiotic and sneering review possible. I kept waiting for the punchline and realised you were serious.

I don't know how anyone could like New Order and not show some appreciation for this album. It's **** brilliant.

and i keep waiting for someone to actually reply,

and give their review, and explain what they mean..

and say why they think its so good..

i have yet to see anyone reply..

will you try? no one else seems to be able to..

later -1

We can't be bothered, because we've wasted enough time replying to your messages already - and know you've wrong on this one!

'Nuff said.

-1 wrote:

Nick King wrote: Technique was my favourite album - it's the album I listen to most nowadays...

As for the comment:

"there's not one iota of what 'new order' stood for, what they represented, or what they were.."

Bollocks...

where's gillian keyboards/guitar work? -> totally programmed, and generic

where's hooky's bass? -> minimized completely

what happened to the drumming -> drum computers

what about bernards vocals -> completely neutered into a clean smooth sound..

that's what i meant..

it was almost like a precursor to 'electronic'.. which i actually don't mind since it's a different band..

later -1

I believe Bernard's vocals have a 'clean smooth sound' in True Faith as well. In this album he actually presents a nice melodic voice that works perfectly with the upbeat but melancholy songs. The lyrics, whatever their inspiration, are painful but somehow uplifting with the music.

I didn't know that Gillian did much of the creative side for the keys, but I've seen Dream Attack a few times to see the guitar playing...

Hooky's bass, while not as pronounced as Brotherhood or PCL, is certainly there. To me its much higher, something like TPK, which is completely understandable for a techno/house style of music.

And as for Stephen, there's a quote: "I always wanted to be a drum machine" Some of the styles on the songs for Technique would be rather difficult, even for a prodigy like Morris. You've said that your fave album is PC&L. Aren't there a few sequences on that?

If you like the first three albums and only those, that's fine. But clearly NO represent more than that and are famous for their longevity and creativity and diversity. It's musak for you, but music for us.

Later

I second everyone elses opinion, this album is the pinacle of New Order.

Knuckles wrote:

I believe Bernard's vocals have a 'clean smooth sound' in True Faith as well. In this album he actually presents a nice melodic voice that works perfectly with the upbeat but melancholy songs. The lyrics, whatever their inspiration, are painful but somehow uplifting with the music.

I didn't know that Gillian did much of the creative side for the keys, but I've seen Dream Attack a few times to see the guitar playing...

Hooky's bass, while not as pronounced as Brotherhood or PCL, is certainly there. To me its much higher, something like TPK, which is completely understandable for a techno/house style of music.

And as for Stephen, there's a quote: "I always wanted to be a drum machine" Some of the styles on the songs for Technique would be rather difficult, even for a prodigy like Morris. You've said that your fave album is PC&L. Aren't there a few sequences on that?

If you like the first three albums and only those, that's fine. But clearly NO represent more than that and are famous for their longevity and creativity and diversity. It's musak for you, but music for us.

Later

thank you for actually posting that..

of course i'm interested in what other people think.. just because i live in my little world of 'new order', and was influenced by them a long time ago..

that's why i have such a hard time with the transition they made....

i wanted to be challenged by the music, but it didn't do it for me......

i know other people liked it.. of course, i'm sure they enjoyed a lot more commercial, and financial success from their latter albums..

however, to me, they lost the mystique that they had by being original sounding, and artistic during the early eras..

the fact that the music on this album, could be categorized so easily, made it much more accessible, and acceptable to the masses...

yeah, i was being selfish by wanting to keep new order as a low-key indie type band .... but i still think they could have balanced artistic integrity with commercial success...

thanks again, for the insight..

later -1

-1, I have been following new order since 84 and never knew they nearly broke up prior to Technique, as you state at the top of your review. for a second, i thought you were about to review Republic... most of your review certainly applies, imho, more to Republic than Technique... just do a Find and Replace with the titles....

Can you educate me on that, the falling out prior to Technique?

I am, like most here, too well aware of the chaos prior to Republic, but always thought the period between 1982 and 1989 was their most prolific and uninterrupted.....

p.s. Technique is my most beloved New Order album, for many reasons, none of which I shall share.

to each their own.

Tarbox23 wrote: -1, I have been following new order since 84 and never knew they nearly broke up prior to Technique, as you state at the top of your review. for a second, i thought you were about to review Republic... most of your review certainly applies, imho, more to Republic than Technique... just do a Find and Replace with the titles....

Can you educate me on that, the falling out prior to Technique?

I am, like most here, too well aware of the chaos prior to Republic, but always thought the period between 1982 and 1989 was their most prolific and uninterrupted.....

p.s. Technique is my most beloved New Order album, for many reasons, none of which I shall share.

to each their own.

well, actually the pre-republic break-up was widely known, so yeah, this seemed out of place..

i agree, new order WERE prolific during the 82-89 era..

far be it for me to spread news or rumors... but i trusted the source that this came from..

so take this for what you will..

i used to be at the record shops every week looking for new music, and of course looking for new order stuff during this time period..

well during the era, substance came out, and everyone was very excited.. well, the store manager who knew about the music industry, and was in touch with groups.... he was responsible for bringing a lot of alternative, 'new wave' type groups to houston..

anyways, i was buying it, and talking to the manager, and he was going on about how this was the 'last' album, etc.. and i said what? because i didn't really read the music magazines, or have internet etc..

and he goes yeah, 'true faith' will be released and maybe a few more tracks but that was it...

anyways, so it turned out that there were actually a few more singles, like blue monday 88, and eventually 'touched by the hand of God'...
so i kept asking what was up if they kept putting out material, and he mentioned they were just doing soundtracks etc.. but he had 'heard' from sources they weren't working together, and that it was inevitable that they were breaking up..

well, nothing came out for the few years in between, and then one day i'm in the store, and the manager says hey guess what? and i ask, and he says there is some information about 'new order', and thats when he played the demo tape for 'technique', and thats when i heard it first.. that's why i was so suprised to find out it was actually them... i had to look at it to make sure it was really them... it seemed like such a radical departure from their earlier works..

and he told me that they had worked things out, and had gotten back together, and the new album was coming out.....

or so i was told..

later -1

For someone who was stated that they own Blancmange and Thompson Twins albums, it's really difficult not to look at this negative review toward the album itself as an act of trolling for attention. I suppose everyone is entitled to their own opinion since art is subjective, so to each their own. With that said, I love this album and could care less to explain why. At least I now know not buy the reissue due to it's technical problems on the bonus tracks, so thanks for the heads up. Better off just hunting down the CD singles and getting Run 2/MTO as seperate downloads on ITunes.

another interesting thing about 'technique'..

i did listen to the whole pre-mix tape while in the store,....

this was before there was news about the album coming out..

i guess i should have asked the guy if he wanted to sell it, or something later on..

but i wasn't really into it, and there wasn't a way to remember how different it was, or what changes were on it..

looking back, it would have been a good piece of history..

i know we have heard the demo tracks from this era, but maybe the premix tape had some differences?

later -1