New Order Debates Series of EPs for Future Releases

That's a great idea, more interesting than an album every three or four years. I wish more artists did it this way.

I like the idea. Too bad the internet destroyed their old creative process of playing "works in progress." Their greatest tracks were forged on stage before hitting the studio. WTF 4 new tracks every now and then is better and an lp every 6 years.

I take that back. Factory forced them to tour and write at the same time b/c they needed money.

almanso wrote: link

"We're thinking about doing about 4 songs at once. We're still debating but I think what we're going to try and do is a series of EPs then we'll probably put them together as an album"

like The Cure did.

That was fun when they did that. But I'm still not convinced, either.

I can't help but feel like they'd start the series and only end up releasing one EP.

I guess an upside would be the potential of extra songs. On each EP you'd get a track or two that maybe wouldn't otherwise reach the album.

The last bit of the article, the joke bit

"I had an idea where we write an album but you cannot buy it. Instead of giving it out for free, which a lot of bands do now, we make the album. It's a new concept now really and you write it but nobody can buy it." Stephen Morris immediately nodded, adding that he is all for the idea. "We'd call it 'Unavailable In Shops." The cover would be "Image not available," added Phil Cunningham.

Isn't that what they did with the "too new ordery" songs from the Sirens era? and the Stuart Price colab?

2011's "Lost Sirens."

so they put out a series of ep,s ,we buy em then they cobble em together with a bonus track no doubt and ask fans to buy em all over again?? they would be more suited to flogging tat on a car boot these days rather than making music

The Eternal wrote: so they put out a series of ep,s ,we buy em then they cobble em together with a bonus track no doubt and ask fans to buy em all over again?? they would be more suited to flogging tat on a car boot these days rather than making music

I wouldn't be so quick to be cynical...even a short EP or a few singles would make me happy. At least they've expressed the willingness to do so.

Bring on the new music! This approach will keep it fresh for everyone, everywhere (couldn't help myself).

It seems like all the veteran bands take 3-4 years minimum to put out just one album (Duran, DMode, The Cure). For a fan it's crushing.

NotAMod wrote: Not to mention that concentrating on batches of 4-5 tracks at a time produces more quality and less filler than concentrating on 10-15. It's win-win and a no brainer in today's harsher record industry climate.

Exactly. Plus, this is a band that Back in the Day used to record LPs, where you only needed 8-10 tracks to fill an album-- with CD/digital tech, bands are now expected to record 15+ tracks and you end up with a bunch of 'atmospheric' inbetweener bullshit. I'll take 4 thoughtfully crafted songs over a a CD loaded with a dozen 15-second samples of whatever.

The Eternal wrote: so they put out a series of ep,s ,we buy em then they cobble em together with a bonus track no doubt and ask fans to buy em all over again?? they would be more suited to flogging tat on a car boot these days rather than making music

And what's your big idea then?

It seems a good idea to me. New Order have very strong albuns as "PC&L", "Low Life" and "Technique", but I think the major force of the band is in the singles. If we pay attention on the setlists of the 2011-2013 gigs, the band have about 12 permanent songs and 5 of them are non-album singles if we include "LWTUA". And eventually they played other non-album singles as "Thieves Like Us", "Here to Stay" and "Touched by the Hand of God". So, this plan to release series of EPs with 4 or 5 new tracks looks very interesting. For example, I like much more "Lost Sirens" than "Sirens' Call" and one of the reasons is because the first one is shorter while the second one got some bullshit between good tracks. I approve the idea, I think it's coherent to a band whose name is "New Order" and to me what it means is "change" or "move ahead and f...ck off the criticisms". 😄

In other words, writing and releasing new material, even in singles or EPs, is better than only doing gigs that looks back.

Johnny James wrote:

The Eternal wrote: so they put out a series of ep,s ,we buy em then they cobble em together with a bonus track no doubt and ask fans to buy em all over again?? they would be more suited to flogging tat on a car boot these days rather than making music

And what's your big idea then?

I think they should record all of their upcoming shows in surround sound, take the tapes to a top studio, and then erase them.

Best way to release music in my opinion. Bands tend to produce better results when they focus on a few tracks instead of 12 or 15 and you get the intensive production without over production and cost overruns.

Its also a lot easier to sell cds when there is only a few tracks so they can be sold cheaply to try and scupper the inevitable theft.More artistic sleeves to ponder over as well.

Good news. Would rather have something than nothing.