I'm starting a new thread that has nothing to do with shipping delays. This is about the box itself (once you've received your copy).

The box is very heavy card, reminiscent of Still. The front is debossed with Music Complete, and the back is debossed with New Order.

Lift the lid to find the album on top. I'm in the States, but the box contains EU pressings. It gave me a real nerd thrill to see a New Order album with a proper Mute Records "STUMM" catalog number, having grown up a huge fan of Mute's catalog.

There are two 4" stickers: a black and white one of the Mute logo (overhead view of a walking figure), and one of the Music Complete album cover with blue in the lower left corner (the CD format). There's also a business-sized card with the download instructions. The downloads come as both MP3 and FLACs.

There's a 12" divider card with Music Complete: New Order printed in the center.

Then there are six 12" singles. The spines all say Music Complete: Extended Mixes, and are labeled as BXSTUMM390 AB, CD, EF, GH, IJ, and K. The rear of each lists the tracks (Restless Extended Mix, Singularity Extended Mix).

The sleeves are printed with a glossy finish on the inside, and a rougher, textured finish (similar to Movement) on the outside. The inner sleeves are black paper lined with plastic.

Restless/Singularity = bright yellow translucent vinyl Plastic/Tutti Frutti = deep green translucent vinyl (same as the UK press of the Restless 12") People On The High Line/Stray Dog = orangish-pink translucent vinyl Academic/Nothing But A Fool = clear vinyl Unlearn This Hatred/The Game = deep blue translucent vinyl Superheated = black vinyl

The labels all say to play at 33rpm, but the records actually play at 45.

Saville has described the artwork for this album as "techno Tudor", with the heavy black lines being based on Tudor designs. The etchings on side 12 carry over the Tudor aesthetic with pine cones, acorns, flowers, and leaves rendered in clean lines - the sort of things that would be woven into tapestries. I think the design of this album is perfect, in that, it doesn't look like anything else at the moment. Saville surprised us, and it works as a unified whole.

The extended mixes are amazing. They aren't remixed - there's nothing added that doesn't appear in the album versions. My favorites are Plastic, People On The High Line, and Academic. Academic sounds even more like Paradise with the sequencer pushed up louder in the mix. For me personally, People On The High Line and Academic have attained "classic New Order" status. I'd put them up against anything recorded during their imperial phase, and I have to say overall I find myself ranking Music Complete as the second best album they've ever made (behind Technique).

In 2015, did any New Order fan expect to find themselves saying "I couldn't be happier"? The box does nothing but add to an already brilliant album.

Is this the musical equivalent of a soap spoiler?

BazG wrote: Is this the musical equivalent of a soap spoiler?

Yeah i was thinking similar

BazG wrote: Is this the musical equivalent of a soap spoiler?

Oh, come on now. Did I really say anything you didn't already know? Descriptions and photos have been floating around for months, so you had some basic idea of what to expect. I just added detail.

I amended the thread title.

Music Complete wrote:

Oh, come on now. Did I really say anything you didn't already know? Descriptions and photos have been floating around for months, so you had some basic idea of what to expect. I just added detail.

I amended the thread title.

Didn't know stickers were included. Didn't know what the etchings were on the final disc. Didn't know what was on each disc. Didn't have such a description of the individual sleeves. Didn't know the paper inners were black plastic lined. Etc.

And I had only seen one photo of the box until yesterday when I saw a second which didn't really add anything.

All I need now are to hear the tracks before the box arrives and there will be no need to open it.

i'm still going to do a transfer from vinyl from the records for myself.

never know what the digital versions will sound like until we get them.

later -1

Thank you for posting all this information, Mr. Music Complete. It's much appreciated. Somehow, your post has increased my excitement and anticipation for the Box Set tenfold. Can't wait!

Thank you very much for this, Mister Fifty.

I haven't ordered the box set (not had a turntable for decades) but this really does sound impressive.

As for the extended mixes, I emailed the very helpful Cathie at Warners yesterday to ask whether the download codes will be sold to the rest of us, once the Boxsetters have all been taken care of. She replied within 24 hours to say that they are looking into this & will update us shortly. Fingers crossed...

Thanks from me too.

Can't wait for my set now... REALLY wanna hear those extended mixes though :)

Brief update & it's bad news about availability of the extended mixes for non-vinyl Neworder fans...

Hello [Rorschach],

Thanks for your patience whilst we looked into this for you.

Unfortunately at the moment there are no plans to make these versions available to customers outside of those who have ordered the box set.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Thanks,

Cathie Your Warner Music Customer Service Team

Which is a real shame, as I had wanted to pay the band for these extra tracks.

Apologies for the botched quote above.

The final sentence is mine but my browser will not allow me to save the corrective edit.

I'm not surprised, but they have to realise that some of us haven't bought vinyl for 20 years, and aren't about to start now. Making the digital files available to buy would be wise.... people don't want to pirate, they want to pay... Apple convincing the music companies of this saved them from themselves... going back to physical purchases only is a step in the wrong direction, especially using a format long since abandoned by those of us that don't have the room for such artefact fetichism.

Well they're trying to reward those who paid a small fortune for the box set; I can understand that. It's a bit of a collectors item, and we already have the standard album available for not-much-money on download and CD. I don't think they will lose much money this way as the extended tracks are only aimed at a small target audience of hardcore fans, I suspect.

I'd like these tracks digitally too, but you know good things come to those who wait. Eventually they will pop up somewhere.

I have every confidence they will pop us somewhere but I would rather not rip off my favourite band who have just put out a fantastic album.

The box is undeniably a delightful collection piece in itself but it is entirely physically redundant for many of us.

Mute has got many things right about this release & I always thought that after a period of exclusivity, the extended mixes would be released to the wider fanbase, at an appropriate cost & via whatever non vinyl mechanism deemed appropriate.

Seems I overestimated them.

She just said there are “no plans”, it doesn’t mean it’s never gonna happen. I did wonder if she would say anything hopeful, as they have to maximise sales of the box set. I’m guessing that eventually there will be something to be gained from sales in other media. I’m not waiting for something cheaper, I could just never go back to vinyl, and space is a consideration. I have two boxes of ancient vinyl including Factory 12”s and LPs, never played now as no turntable, that I wouldn’t be parted from and that’s enough. Been there done that got the T shirt. I’m resigned to wait for however long. (Just like I’m still waiting to get the whole video of Maida Vale concert - that may never happen!)

I would imagine that whilst the box set is available to order they wouldn't release these as a digital only package. As mentioned above they will want to maximise the sales on a high end box set that will earn them most revenue. Releasing them now would no doubt jeapordise that. I was told early on though that the box set was limited. As to how many copies were being produced I have no idea. After they have sold out, and an acceptable time period lapsed, I'm sure they will become available for general consumption. I think it might be a while though.

yeah, I got a similar reply from Cathie. And even though it doesn't state categorically that there are no plans to release them, I still find it extremely disappointing because I too want to reward my favourite band for recording one of their best ever albums with cold hard cash. I've already bought the UK and the NZ pressings of the cd, I don't mind flinging more wads of cash in their direction. However, the shipping costs of getting the box set down here are just astronomical, plus I am no fan of vinyl, its horrible, and I live in the 21st century. I have a large collection I built up in the 80s and 90s, but will never listen to them again for I have no turntable, and have them all digitally in lovely apple lossless. It would have been nice for some consideration being given to the world wide fan base, who are willing to pay for digital files, who cannot afford the shipping costs and don't particular want to resort to pirated copies... :)

Vinyl has no part in the 21st century then? That's quite a scathing comment. I'm not sure everyone is aware of that yet? Maybe we're just all a bit ignorant or behind the times. Vinyl has been the only constant through the CD revolution when most of the record industry turned their back on it. Now CD sales are declining. Downloads are down around 40% and the only growth area in physical format is vinyl. Each to their own though.

According to UPS, my box will not arrive until tomorrow... just so I understand, I've got to open the darn thing in order to access the code to download the extended versions? The New Order Store doesn't automatically send me a link to download the files?

-Mike

steinomite wrote: According to UPS, my box will not arrive until tomorrow... just so I understand, I've got to open the darn thing in order to access the code to download the extended versions? The New Order Store doesn't automatically send me a link to download the files?

-Mike

Aye that's right. You'll have to open it too to see if you have a signed copy. The download code in the box will also only work once.

I am located in Australia and ordered each boxset from the UK & USA websites, got the boxset from USA 3 days ago.....funny thing, the boxset is actually Made in EU....so these boxsets must have travelled from Europe to America then to Oceania, lots of globetrotting!!...I was hoping there'll be different EU & USA pressings as with the case with MC & Restless vinyls but oh well, not the case

Mine wasnt signed (dang) but the boxset looks good especially that salmon-red vinyl....my only gripe is the box itself - it was stapled (though meticulously done with even spacing) together rather than glued (like the Bad Lieutenant boxset which was very nicely done) I do share 50poundnote's delight & enthusiasm for the boxset.

Those extended versions are really good though - def enjoyed them. After listening to the standard MC for about 50+ times since its release, I find the extended mixes sound more complete & spread-out much better ( the standard ones now sound a bit edited, rushed, densed/compact ) and not sure if there was something with my ears 😂 but I thought Barney's vocals (and even Brandon's) sounded different ...perhaps, vocals were mixed differently or even better, different vocal takes ???

I got a signed copy today, totally the most impressive NO related item I own music complete signed

mikepreda wrote: I got a signed copy today, totally the most impressive NO related item I own music complete signed

wow....lucky chap, CONGRATS nice signatures too with different colours, in line with the spirit of the packaging

poisoned snickers 2015 wrote:

mikepreda wrote: I got a signed copy today, totally the most impressive NO related item I own music complete signed

wow....lucky chap, CONGRATS nice signatures too with different colours, in line with the spirit of the packaging

Thanks man! It does add some character with the different colours, very NO in that sense haha!

Congrats, Mike! 😎

Rorschach wrote: Congrats, Mike! 😎

Thanks! Heres to hoping more NOOLers get some copies!

BazG wrote: Vinyl has no part in the 21st century then? That's quite a scathing comment. I'm not sure everyone is aware of that yet? Maybe we're just all a bit ignorant or behind the times. Vinyl has been the only constant through the CD revolution when most of the record industry turned their back on it. Now CD sales are declining. Downloads are down around 40% and the only growth area in physical format is vinyl. Each to their own though.

As you say, each to their own. I just can't see the quality in a popping, cracking vinyl record, that is damaged every time you play it. Then again, I didn't grow up with vinyl in the 70s and 80s, so maybe I don't get that same, nostalgic glow? :)

Yeah, congrats Mike.

Received mine yesterday, unfortunately not signed, but it's beautiful... and Academic extended is a masterpiece.

Thanks NO and Mute for putting this out.

My box was waiting for me when I got home last night. Sadly it wasn't signed, I thought I had a good chance of getting one, since I ordered the first day and was around the 39th order....but oh well. I love the contents of the box, however the construction of it could have been better ( I was almost expecting a really sturdy box like Depeche Mode got with their Sounds of the Universe box ). Again a small issue. But again, the contents were well worth the price.

Now as to the person who said vinyl was horrible and it gets destroyed when you play it, that's not the case. I've bought vinyl for years beginning in the mid 80's, and every piece of vinyl that I've purchased new, is dead quiet with no snap crackles or pops ( with two exceptions, that would be tough to replace ). And if you take care of your records, clean and store them properly ( and don't play them on sub par equipment ( like Crossley players)), they will last ages with no loss of fidelity. ( Seriously, used record shops at least around my area are full of records from the 40's and 50's, and the ones that were taken care of look and sound fantastic .)

[albumimg]125[/albumimg]

without quality. clip ???

Sweet jumping Jebus these extended versions are bloody good.

Got home from work just now and had missed the postman by 40 minutes - card through the door, i'll pick it up from the post office tomorrow.

Brian Barker wrote:

Now as to the person who said vinyl was horrible and it gets destroyed when you play it, that's not the case. I've bought vinyl for years beginning in the mid 80's, and every piece of vinyl that I've purchased new, is dead quiet with no snap crackles or pops ( with two exceptions, that would be tough to replace ). And if you take care of your records, clean and store them properly ( and don't play them on sub par equipment ( like Crossley players)), they will last ages with no loss of fidelity. ( Seriously, used record shops at least around my area are full of records from the 40's and 50's, and the ones that were taken care of look and sound fantastic .)

Wonder if you may able to enlighten me on looking after vinyl. Strange thing is, vinyl i bought way back in the 80s still sounds great whereas more recent purchases seem to deteriorate quite quickly.I bought Aphex Twin's Syro album on vinyl a year ago and a lot of the tracks are almost impossible to listen to now ( yeah some might say that about his music anyway ha ha) though i have the digital versions if i want.I've got a Technics SL- B210 turntable that dates back to the 80s i think (bought it off a workmate in the 90s) I replace the stylus fairly often - i stuck a new one on just a few weeks ago. Beginning to wonder if the cleaning fluid i use is actually doing more harm than good. I use this stuff:

y

I brush the record with the velvet vinyl cleaning brush and then clean with the fluid and the cloth and leave to dry for around 15 minutes before playing.I never used to use vinyl cleaning fluid and would just give the discs a once over with the velvet brush but the fluid seems to be harming the records. I also use a fluid ( stylus cleaning fluid) and brush to gently clean the stylus.But quite quickly the sound starts going to shit.Would i be better off not using cleaning fluid and simply sticking to using the record cleaning brush? Stuff like my old copy of Brotherhood that i bought in 1986 seems to benefit more from not being cleaned at all! Just trying to find an answer to what's going on.It's an old turntable yeah but as long as i replace the stylus fairly often that shouldn't matter should it?

Denial_1963 wrote:

[albumimg]125[/albumimg]

without quality. clip ???

My box set was just delivered by UPS. I have to agree, the outer box is rather flimsy. The Recoil, Kraftwerk, and Cabaret Voltaire boxes that Mute has issued in recent years are all much sturdier. I own them all. I was expecting the New Order box to be of similar quality. This is probably the first box set that I have ever purchased that is stapled together! 😕

-Mike

Fotzepolitic wrote:

Wonder if you may able to enlighten me on looking after vinyl. Strange thing is, vinyl i bought way back in the 80s still sounds great whereas more recent purchases seem to deteriorate quite quickly.I bought Aphex Twin's Syro album on vinyl a year ago and a lot of the tracks are almost impossible to listen to now ( yeah some might say that about his music anyway ha ha) though i have the digital versions if i want.I've got a Technics SL- B210 turntable that dates back to the 80s i think (bought it off a workmate in the 90s) I replace the stylus fairly often - i stuck a new one on just a few weeks ago. Beginning to wonder if the cleaning fluid i use is actually doing more harm than good. I use this stuff:

Nice cheap solution that works is a painter's edger (http://tinyurl.com/p4u5pze) which has perfect knobbly bits for softly pulling the dirt out rather than stuffing it back into the grooves. Move it in a circular motion with a little warm water and some eco-friendly dishwashing liquid, run it under some (preferably filtered) water and let it air dry. Even if you are wary about the water approach, use the edger with your record cleaning solution rather than the cloth.

Love my vinyl (not enough to shell out for the box set though - overkill IMO) and got the clear vinyl edition of MC. Bought it on CD too - my first in years - due to impatience waiting for the record to show up. So I've bought it twice already and would be happy to pay again to get those extended mixes.

Brian Barker wrote: My box was waiting for me when I got home last night. Sadly it wasn't signed, I thought I had a good chance of getting one, since I ordered the first day and was around the 39th order....but oh well. )

Why? They always made it quite clear it would be completely at random from all orders.

M1 wrote:

Fotzepolitic wrote:

Wonder if you may able to enlighten me on looking after vinyl. Strange thing is, vinyl i bought way back in the 80s still sounds great whereas more recent purchases seem to deteriorate quite quickly.I bought Aphex Twin's Syro album on vinyl a year ago and a lot of the tracks are almost impossible to listen to now ( yeah some might say that about his music anyway ha ha) though i have the digital versions if i want.I've got a Technics SL- B210 turntable that dates back to the 80s i think (bought it off a workmate in the 90s) I replace the stylus fairly often - i stuck a new one on just a few weeks ago. Beginning to wonder if the cleaning fluid i use is actually doing more harm than good. I use this stuff:

Nice cheap solution that works is a painter's edger (http://tinyurl.com/p4u5pze) which has perfect knobbly bits for softly pulling the dirt out rather than stuffing it back into the grooves. Move it in a circular motion with a little warm water and some eco-friendly dishwashing liquid, run it under some (preferably filtered) water and let it air dry. Even if you are wary about the water approach, use the edger with your record cleaning solution rather than the cloth.

Ah ok, thanks for the tip.I'll try that.I think that's what's happening- by trying to clean the discs i'm just pushing the crap more into the grooves and by not cleaning my Brotherhood vinyl it's staying good.

Fotzepolitic wrote:

M1 wrote:

Fotzepolitic wrote:

Wonder if you may able to enlighten me on looking after vinyl. Strange thing is, vinyl i bought way back in the 80s still sounds great whereas more recent purchases seem to deteriorate quite quickly.I bought Aphex Twin's Syro album on vinyl a year ago and a lot of the tracks are almost impossible to listen to now ( yeah some might say that about his music anyway ha ha) though i have the digital versions if i want.I've got a Technics SL- B210 turntable that dates back to the 80s i think (bought it off a workmate in the 90s) I replace the stylus fairly often - i stuck a new one on just a few weeks ago. Beginning to wonder if the cleaning fluid i use is actually doing more harm than good. I use this stuff:

Nice cheap solution that works is a painter's edger (http://tinyurl.com/p4u5pze) which has perfect knobbly bits for softly pulling the dirt out rather than stuffing it back into the grooves. Move it in a circular motion with a little warm water and some eco-friendly dishwashing liquid, run it under some (preferably filtered) water and let it air dry. Even if you are wary about the water approach, use the edger with your record cleaning solution rather than the cloth.

Ah ok, thanks for the tip.I'll try that.I think that's what's happening- by trying to clean the discs i'm just pushing the crap more into the grooves and by not cleaning my Brotherhood vinyl it's staying good.

A bit of crackle is part of the charm - with older vinyl. But not on new pressings like the wretched one of Get Ready :(

Nice to see a regular poster from NOOL get a signed copy, received mine today, not signed, but I've lived a lucky and charmed life so cannot complain.

Extended versions sound great first listen, what a fuckin great album this is

Listening to the extended plays today when a load of records fell on my head.......only got my shelf to blame

My download link with the box set does not work! Major fuck up of Mute in general, both with pre-order/box set downloads of NO releases. I went to soulseek and download the extended versions illegally - since i paid loads of money for this box set. First reissues disaster, then unavailable dl links on MC release day, now this.. I wonder when they'll show some respect to their fans.

Hands down with Saville design but this is the worst outer box ever! It looks cheap and it is cheap. (For excellent ones check out latest Mogwai box sets. Its cheaper than NO box, mind you.)

W

i really liked the etched side of the last single:

later -1

I tried to download all tracks in the zip file several times but it kept fucking up. Had to do them all individually in the end. I note the box lid edges of my copy are splayed to one side rather than as rigid as they should be but the contents are immaculate. I just need to go and check it out again....

WickerMan wrote:

My download link with the box set does not work! Major fuck up of Mute in general, both with pre-order/box set downloads of NO releases. I went to soulseek and download the extended versions illegally - since i paid loads of money for this box set. First reissues disaster, then unavailable dl links on MC release day, now this.. I wonder when they'll show some respect to their fans.

Hands down with Saville design but this is the worst outer box ever! It looks cheap and it is cheap. (For excellent ones check out latest Mogwai box sets. Its cheaper than NO box, mind you.)

W

I've been waiting for them to pop up on Soulseek for awhile now, but no such luck. I hate to sound like a cheapskate by resorting to file sharing, but since Mute isn't offering them as individual purchases, there's no other alternative. I'm probably one of the few people here that has actually purchased all of the new 2015 digitally remastered albums too, despite having the older cds sitting right on my shelf.

MUTE OFFER THE EXTENDED DOWNLOADS FOR SALE AND TAKE OUR MONEY, DAMNIT!

Not a signed version here either, but these extended versions are SO good that I don't care!

Perfect timing to leave the boxset/extended versions a good month or more as I was just getting to the point of having my first binge on the album, and now I'm falling in love with it all over again with these amazing long versions.

I didn't have especially high hoped that they would be interesting enough, but they are almost like a "Director's Cut" - and the mixes are definitely different throughout, it's not just a few extra bars of instrumental at the beginning/end (as I'd feared)

My download worked straight away too. muteartistsdownloads.com/nobox

Picked up from the post office this morning.Not signed but hey ho.Stuck the stickers (including the bar code one) to the inside of the top lid,may live to regret it and probably not the sort of thing hardcore collectors would do but the impulse just took me. Only listened to Superheated extended so far, loving the long intro.Also great to have the standard album on clear vinyl too, i didn't purchase the vinyl edition back in September.

As previously mentioned it's a shame they messed up by incorrectly stating on the labels the play speeds.But just noticed the disc with People On The High Line/Stray Dog and the disc with Superheated are correct (45 rpm).So they messed up some but not others😂

My box set arrived yesterday at my parent's house, so when I go over there today I'll get to unpack it and see if I received a signed copy (aren't we all hoping we got one?). Really looking forward to hearing the extended mixes.

Listening on headphones Superheated extended sounds almost like it's all Bernard on the chorus as opposed to all Brandon on the standard version.I'm certainly enjoying The Game and Unlearn This Hatred extended more than the standard versions.Even liking Stray Dog more in this version.Not sure about Plastic though, a bit samey throughout compared to the standard.Will give it more listens though.Great housey piano brought to the fore around 2 minutes in through to 3 minutes in and then again around 6 minutes mark in Tutti Frutti.People On The High Line extended really is one big funky freak out isn't it Don't know about Nothing But A Fool - think i prefer the standard.Maybe the same feelings about Academic despite that bass sequencer brought more upfront- think i prefer the original but again, needs more listens.Big thanks to NO and Mute for this wonderful thing Wonder whose idea it was? Bernard? Maybe it was actually Daniel Miller's idea????

Cheap crap for $100

Box is flimsy, looks like it was stapled together in some third world country by drunken children.

The stapled 12x12 multipage insert is like something I could have photocopied at work. You can tell it is toner and not real ink, and printed on garbage paper instead of glossy stock.

The RPM are wrong on most of the records.

The entire thing is pathetic. Made more pathetic because it COULD have been so amazing. The colored vinyl and design are fantastic. But the final execution was clearly designed to cut corners...

I would get a refund if I could.

All the adulation for this is pretty surprising to me. No objectivity from most of you.

tarbox23 wrote: Cheap crap for $100

Box is flimsy, looks like it was stapled together in some third world country by drunken children.

The stapled 12x12 multipage insert is like something I could have photocopied at work. You can tell it is toner and not real ink, and printed on garbage paper instead of glossy stock.

The RPM are wrong on most of the records.

The entire thing is pathetic. Made more pathetic because it COULD have been so amazing. The colored vinyl and design are fantastic. But the final execution was clearly designed to cut corners...

I would get a refund if I could.

All the adulation for this is pretty surprising to me. No objectivity from most of you.

I've read a lot of praise for the tracks. The general consensus is that they've exceeded expectations.

All your criticisms have been mentioned. I've not heard of anyone requesting a refund as of yet. Have you asked Mute?

tarbox23 wrote: Cheap crap for $100

Box is flimsy, looks like it was stapled together in some third world country by drunken children.

The stapled 12x12 multipage insert is like something I could have photocopied at work. You can tell it is toner and not real ink, and printed on garbage paper instead of glossy stock.

The RPM are wrong on most of the records.

The entire thing is pathetic. Made more pathetic because it COULD have been so amazing. The colored vinyl and design are fantastic. But the final execution was clearly designed to cut corners...

I would get a refund if I could.

All the adulation for this is pretty surprising to me. No objectivity from most of you.

while you are right about some points.

$100 is a steal for this... compared to what other bands would charge, i have a friend in the music industry, and he was surprised when he heard how much these are going for.

yes, they could have better build quality, and control.

however, the music is the main thing, so unless you bought it for art, you wouldn't really care.

i've opened mine up, played the tracks, recorded them, looked at the records, and now they are going back into the box, probably forever.

which is what most people will do.

so in that case, why did you buy it?

later -1

Antoz wrote:

BazG wrote: Vinyl has no part in the 21st century then? That's quite a scathing comment. I'm not sure everyone is aware of that yet? Maybe we're just all a bit ignorant or behind the times. Vinyl has been the only constant through the CD revolution when most of the record industry turned their back on it. Now CD sales are declining. Downloads are down around 40% and the only growth area in physical format is vinyl. Each to their own though.

As you say, each to their own. I just can't see the quality in a popping, cracking vinyl record, that is damaged every time you play it. Then again, I didn't grow up with vinyl in the 70s and 80s, so maybe I don't get that same, nostalgic glow? :)

i just finished recording the tracks from vinyl. i don't have the greatest setup. but the tracks are fine, and with a little digital restoration, they will come out probably as good, or in fact better than the digital tracks for download.

not sure, where people get that vinyl is a bad format, unless they have badly preserved records, or ones that have been damaged, or not taken care of.

it's a whole new field nowadays. records from 30 years were different, unless you bought audiophile versions, nowadays i find the pressings to be of much higher quality than the past.

i'm remastering them here:

http://forums.neworderonline.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=3127#post20870

later -1

So, promised to take my 3 year old lad on a steam train today. Little did he know the reason I so readily agreed (as well as being trainspotter!); the sorting office is on the way to the station so I could pick up my box set!

Couldn't wait so opened it in the car as soon as I picked it up.................but it's not a signed copy.

Do I care? Do I fuck. Listening to the MP3s now on my hi-fi and am simply blown away. These extended versions are fucking awesome. Can't wait to get the FLACs uploaded on to my Brenan so I can hear them in their full glory. As someone else has said, I've fallen in love with the album all over again. Box looks great too, and I don't give a crap about it being "flimsy" or whatever some people are saying, but then again I drive an Alfa so I value looks and style over quality of construction........... ;-)

Got to my parent's house and there was the box containing the box set sitting on the piano bench. Took said box to kitchen, opened it and then carefully sliced the wrapping on the outside of the box to open the box. The box itself is in great condition - no defects. Sadly I did not receive a signed copy. Boohoo. I'll live. I didn't have a problem downloading the mp3 tracks (as one archive file) or all of the flac files, so I'm not sure why people are having an issue doing this - you just input your name, email address, the code and the country you're in and voila. Haven't listened to all the extended tracks, just People On the High Line. I'm going to copy the mp3 files on to a mp3 stick so I can put it in my car and have a listen as I putter about.

The box itself isn't that bad.It's not brilliant i agree but it's ok.A Hessian cover would have been great but i guess that would have rocketed the price up

negative1 wrote:

tarbox23 wrote: Cheap crap for $100

Box is flimsy, looks like it was stapled together in some third world country by drunken children.

The stapled 12x12 multipage insert is like something I could have photocopied at work. You can tell it is toner and not real ink, and printed on garbage paper instead of glossy stock.

The RPM are wrong on most of the records.

The entire thing is pathetic. Made more pathetic because it COULD have been so amazing. The colored vinyl and design are fantastic. But the final execution was clearly designed to cut corners...

I would get a refund if I could.

All the adulation for this is pretty surprising to me. No objectivity from most of you.

while you are right about some points.

$100 is a steal for this... compared to what other bands would charge, i have a friend in the music industry, and he was surprised when he heard how much these are going for.

yes, they could have better build quality, and control.

however, the music is the main thing, so unless you bought it for art, you wouldn't really care.

i've opened mine up, played the tracks, recorded them, looked at the records, and now they are going back into the box, probably forever.

which is what most people will do.

so in that case, why did you buy it?

later -1

I bought it so I could play the vinyl and add a beautifully made box set to all my other meticulously-produced New Order and Joy Division vinyl.

And, yes, the music is fantastic.

But why put out a box set if you are going to do it half-assed? It is SO close to being amazing. The colored vinyl, the artwork, and the concept are all brilliant. But then you fail with the flimsy box that is a few days away from falling apart, and the insert that looks and feels more like something photocopied by college kids for an early 80s Sonic Youth LP....

Most folks are buying this to add to their high quality vinyl collections, hoping it will complement their other box sets etc.

You can't sit this next to Still on your shelf. It is embarrassing.

My point is that this is something Saville must be disappointed about. I thought Mute would do a similar job to Factory back in the day, with a quality product.

This is not a quality product. This looks like it was cobbled together and done as cheaply as possible.

I am discussing the physical product, not the audio. Some people care about the physical product. Factory Records used to. New Order used to.

funny, what people concentrate on..

some people are critical about the build and the quality.

some are critical about the music itself....

in fact, i dont' think the tracks are all that great, most are ok, and some are very good

i'm mostly disappointed in the 'quality' of the tracks, that they weren't mixed properly, overly produced, and brickwalled in sound...

but to me, the physical appearance, etc, and details about the rest of the product don't concern me.

MUTE FACTORY

yes, factory set high standards, they would be hard pressed to achieve those again.

later -1

Spittingcat wrote: I'm not surprised, but they have to realise that some of us haven't bought vinyl for 20 years, and aren't about to start now. Making the digital files available to buy would be wise.... people don't want to pirate, they want to pay... Apple convincing the music companies of this saved them from themselves... going back to physical purchases only is a step in the wrong direction, especially using a format long since abandoned by those of us that don't have the room for such artefact fetichism.

Apple lol

negative1 wrote: MUTE FACTORY

yes, factory set high standards, they would be hard pressed to achieve those again.

later -1

Not going to argue whether or not Factory equals Mute, but, within the last few years, Mute released the following box sets that are all similar in size the "Music Complete" deluxe box:

Kraftwerk - "The Catalogue" (KLANGBOX 002) Recoil - "Selected" (BXMUTEL17) Cabaret Voltaire - "#8385" (CABS21)

All three were well constructed with sturdy materials. The outer box for the "Music Complete" box looks/feels cheap in comparison. So, they may not be Factory, but Mute has a history of putting out quality box sets. See Depeche Mode, Throbbing Gristle, Wire, and Erasure for examples other deluxe retrospectives. Mute could have done better here. We, however, do not know if the label decided the materials to use or if someone like Paul Hetherington did. Saville himself only provides "direction" and is not likely to have been involved in this type of detail.

-Mike

Unfortunately, I have to agree with the comments regarding the construction of the box itself. It was a poor design: the lid does not fit on the box snugly, and, when standing upright (as vinyl records need to be stored), the box and the lid separate from themselves unless held together (that's probably my biggest complaint and really the fatal flaw of this design). It would have been easy to come up with a sturdier design; was Mute worried that this would have made the cost of the box prohibitive?

The staples are a bit of an eyesore when i put the box away with the rest of my vinyl.They should have gone with a Hessian cover with the construction glued together instead of staples- how much more would have it cost for a Hessian cover? Or is Hessian out of fashion these days? A glued together box would have resulted in the lid sitting snugly i'm sure.

Fotzepolitic wrote: The staples are a bit of an eyesore when i put the box away with the rest of my vinyl.They should have gone with a Hessian cover with the construction glued together instead of staples- how much more would have it cost for a Hessian cover? Or is Hessian out of fashion these days? A glued together box would have resulted in the lid sitting snugly i'm sure.

Agreed. I was quite disappointed when I saw the box, the staples just make it look really ugly. I've seen some great box sets recently, the nick cave one with it's linen box was beautifully made. I know it would have put the price up but I would rather have paid a bit more for a better product. Wonder what Saville thinks of this?

Stoo wrote:

Fotzepolitic wrote: The staples are a bit of an eyesore when i put the box away with the rest of my vinyl.They should have gone with a Hessian cover with the construction glued together instead of staples- how much more would have it cost for a Hessian cover? Or is Hessian out of fashion these days? A glued together box would have resulted in the lid sitting snugly i'm sure.

Agreed. I was quite disappointed when I saw the box, the staples just make it look really ugly. I've seen some great box sets recently, the nick cave one with it's linen box was beautifully made. I know it would have put the price up but I would rather have paid a bit more for a better product. Wonder what Saville thinks of this?

When i first saw the promo photo for the box some months ago on NewOrderNow i actually thought it was a linen cover though it was hard to be sure from the photo.Yeah i'd have paid a bit more for a linen cover.Wonder if Mute would entertain the idea of getting some linen boxes (just the box itself), glued not stapled, made up and sent out to those that purchased the box set to replace the current box.Probably not! Stupid question.

I suppose if you were really really really clever you could delicately remove the staples and then put the box back together with industrial strength glue. Not something i would consider trying though in a million years and anyway you'd be left with tiny pinholes were the staples had gone in though that might actually be better than some ugly staples if nothing else! Anyway, it's definitely not something i'd try.

steinomite wrote:

negative1 wrote: MUTE FACTORY

yes, factory set high standards, they would be hard pressed to achieve those again.

later -1

Not going to argue whether or not Factory equals Mute, but, within the last few years, Mute released the following box sets that are all similar in size the "Music Complete" deluxe box:

Kraftwerk - "The Catalogue" (KLANGBOX 002) Recoil - "Selected" (BXMUTEL17) Cabaret Voltaire - "#8385" (CABS21)

All three were well constructed with sturdy materials. The outer box for the "Music Complete" box looks/feels cheap in comparison. So, they may not be Factory, but Mute has a history of putting out quality box sets. See Depeche Mode, Throbbing Gristle, Wire, and Erasure for examples other deluxe retrospectives. Mute could have done better here. We, however, do not know if the label decided the materials to use or if someone like Paul Hetherington did. Saville himself only provides "direction" and is not likely to have been involved in this type of detail.

-Mike

i have both the kraftwerk box, and the cabaret voltaire one.

the major difference is that out of those 3 boxes, only the cabaret voltaire one had an option for 4xLP in it.... which is still not the same amount of weight.

so, packing cd's in there, they don't need the same support.

also, there were issues with kraftwerk and cabaret voltaire, missing tracks, alternate versions, easily scuffed boxes, flimsy booklets, etc.

i wouldn't exactly call them quality, but they were adequate.

later -1

You guys do realize that all of this is deliberate design choices made by Saville, right? That Mute had nothing to do with the design?

I don't think it's flimsy at all, and I think the "thread" (as stated in the description months ago - not staples) is an elegant touch. If your box is falling apart you obviously don't know how to handle it.

Those preview photos of the boxset gave me the impression that it will have a 'deluxe' feel to it. I thought it might be similar to the Bad Lieutenant boxset which has debossed lettering/graphics & the box is fabric-lined with glued at edges, etc..

So yes, when I opened up the package, my heart dropped a bit when I saw those staples and the cardboard box is not too strong either.

But then again it should have been expected because of the quantities of vinyls we are getting - double-album (GBP-20) plus 6 x 12" vinyls (GBP-9 each) would have equalled to GBP-74 but we only paid GBP-70...so we can assumed we got that cardboard box for free

...perhaps Tony Wilson would have turned in his grave, knowing the quality of the box.

poisoned snickers 2015 wrote: Those preview photos of the boxset gave me the impression that it will have a 'deluxe' feel to it. I thought it might be similar to the Bad Lieutenant boxset which has debossed lettering/graphics & the box is fabric-lined with glued at edges, etc..

So yes, when I opened up the package, my heart dropped a bit when I saw those staples and the cardboard box is not too strong either.

But then again it should have been expected because of the quantities of vinyls we are getting - double-album (GBP-20) plus 6 x 12" vinyls (GBP-9 each) would have equalled to GBP-74 but we only paid GBP-70...so we can assumed we got that cardboard box for free

...perhaps Tony Wilson would have turned in his grave, knowing the quality of the box.

Yep, I was thinking the very same thing before I read this. I am a bit disappointed with how it's turned out. So you get the MC double clear vinyl edition and 6 vinyls in a poor quality box. I would have liked this box set to have been a bit "deluxe" in presentation, and to me it comes across a bit lazy. The extended vinyls look great but have the same generic sleeve apart from the track details on the back, and the MC clear double vinyl is readily available anyway. All of this in a low quality box. They could have perhaps made a special pressing of the album, have a quality box, maybe a book of some sort, making of the album DVD, etc..

The whole point of box sets is that they're made to be collectible and all lot of that is due to the deluxe presentation not just the musical content within. It's an arty thing I suppose but I can't help feeling the whole box set project is a bit flawed and the band deserved better.

"Most folks are buying this to add to their high quality vinyl collections, hoping it will complement their other box sets etc.

You can't sit this next to Still on your shelf. It is embarrassing"

So, basically your main intention is to show off your "high quality" record collection to your visitors??!!!! Why else would it be "embarrassing" to put it next to your other box sets? Sorry if I've misinterpreted what you've said, but for me it's about the records themselves; some of the best vinyl I own is in sleeves/boxes that look like crap!

I got my box set yesterday and sadly it isn't one of the signed ones. I purchased it mainly to own something that will in time become a bit of New Order rarity (perhaps).

Not having a record player, I was really looking forward to the downloads. Excuse my general ignorance when it comes to computers and the web but when I typed "muteartistsdownloads.com/nobox" into google, all I get is a single link to this page on NOOL! No link to any website associated with Mute is even offered. I went to the Mute website but their download link go to itunes and such like. I also searched using yahoo but again no joy.

Does anyone have a link to the download page where I can enter my download code and get some more New Order magic? Thanks for any help anyone can offer.

truefaith1.0

truefaith1.0 wrote: typed "muteartistsdownloads.com/nobox" into google

You don't type that into Google. You type it into address field at the top of your browser.

Thanks MC. That did the trick. Like I said, some of us shouldn't be let near the internet.

Have listened to a few songs and it seems the "extended mixes" are more remixes than extended, given the length of some of the original songs.

I prefer the original of Stray Dog. If anything, it would have been nice to hear the original stripped back a little, to get down to the original part of the tune created by Steve and Gillian that the whole song was based on. The People on the Highline remix sounds good.

Music Complete wrote: ...... The box is very heavy card, reminiscent of Still. The front is debossed with Music Complete, and the back is debossed with New Order.

Lift the lid to find the album on top. I'm in the States, but the box contains EU pressings. It gave me a real nerd thrill to see a New Order album with a proper Mute Records "STUMM" catalog number, having grown up a huge fan of Mute's catalog.

There are two 4" stickers: a black and white one of the Mute logo (overhead view of a walking figure), and one of the Music Complete album cover with blue in the lower left corner (the CD format). There's also a business-sized card with the download instructions. The downloads come as both MP3 and FLACs.

...

Here's an unboxing video of the box, where you can see everything described above. In my opinion the box itself is very unsatisfying in case of quality. It looks and feels cheap, so that I wonder if Peter Saville is also the Art Director of the box.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cE3ZxtUpuHw

Besides, the music sounds great for me. Except "Stray Dog" I like every song, and also the extended versions are an extended value to the album!

Hugo Egon Balder wrote:

Here's an unboxing video of the box, where you can see everything described above. In my opinion the box itself is very unsatisfying in case of quality. It looks and feels cheap, so that I wonder if Peter Saville is also the Art Director of the box.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cE3ZxtUpuHw

These people who upload their unboxing videos to youtube are just plain weird.But i did note that some of his discs have the correct play speed (45rpm) and some are incorrect (like mine and others). But the ones that are correct or incorrect differ in correct/incorrect from the discs i have.So it seems completely random from each copy of the box to the next which play discs are labelled correct/ incorrect or not.Interesting stuff eh?

Will there be an extended video made to show the box contents?

Fotzepolitic wrote:

Hugo Egon Balder wrote:

Here's an unboxing video of the box, where you can see everything described above. In my opinion the box itself is very unsatisfying in case of quality. It looks and feels cheap, so that I wonder if Peter Saville is also the Art Director of the box.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cE3ZxtUpuHw

But i did note that some of his discs have the correct play speed (45rpm) and some are incorrect (like mine and others). But the ones that are correct or incorrect differ in correct/incorrect from the discs i have.So it seems completely random from each copy of the box to the next which play discs are labelled correct/ incorrect or not.Interesting stuff eh?

I think they totally messed it up in the first pressing of the labels, so that they produced 33rpm for every label and then they just printed some correct ones, which they mixed randomly with the incorrect ones. When I look at the box, instead of printing the right rpm for all, I imagine they wanted to save money :-)

Increasingly glad I didn't buy that ugly thing - happy with my clear 2LP ;)

M1 wrote: Increasingly glad I didn't buy that ugly thing - happy with my clear 2LP ;)

Altough I'm not satisfied with the box I am good with having the extended versions on vinyl. That makes sense for me, as New Order had alway a special relation, let alone "Blue Monday". So all in all I'm happy with the box.

I heard they will sell it on Amazon, maybe for less - so that could be an option for the ones hesitating to buy it?!

To me the vinyl is a millstone ... I'd be happy to pay whatever it cost, not to have it and the delivery hassles.

Hugo Egon Balder wrote:

I heard they will sell it on Amazon, maybe for less - so that could be an option for the ones hesitating to buy it?!

It's £75.99 on Amazon UK and available from 27/11.

I fell for the trick that it was going to be exclusive to the NO store and was told the run was limited by Mute so I parted with my cash over 4 months ago for fear of missing out. Once bitten...

I'm delighted it is Vinyl only, although it does come with downloads.

Academic really should have been first single, not Restless, which I like as an album track, but Academic is in the tradition of recently mind blowingly good first singles from an album.

Perhaps it's an opportunity for those so pleased to be happy in the 21st century to reflect on the joy of vinyl.

Sheesh, perhaps I'm just a sad fanboy or something, but I think the box (as well as its contents) are great. Mind you, I carried on buying New Order 12-inch vinyl well into the 90s just to get the fabulous Savilloid artwork larger than it was on the CD singles, so perhaps I'm too willing to forgive them their other trangressions!

I have no problem with the thick cardboard box — in fact I think it looks great with the chunky industrial staples — and although I'm a fully paid-up iPod owner who listens to most music digitally these days, I like owning the coloured vinyl and the box as something of an objet d'art. And you get digital versions of the songs anyway, so it's the best of both worlds to me. One day I might needle-drop the vinyl — I have the technology — but with a little boy to look after, it's a question of finding the time. The FLACs are doing fine for me in the meantime. And I say that as someone who still has a large record and CD collection, and would usually rather have a physical product if it's available, CD or vinyl, than live with downloads alone.

In terms of the contents, I think the 'Boxtended' versions absolutely rock. I like that they're 'traditional' extended versions rather than very different-sounding remixes, and most of them complement the album mixes for me, just as New Order's 12-inch mixes did in the 80s and 90s. For example, I like both the Technique album mix of Round And Round *and* the Extended 12-inch mix, and the original mix and Shep P mixes of True Faith — they're slightly different beasts to me, but all great in different ways. I feel the same way about the Boxtended mixes. And the long mix of Academic is an absolute stand-out highlight for me that's almost worth the price of admission alone.

So no complaints from me (well, OK, the included booklet seems a bit of a thrown-together afterthought, but that's about the worst thing I can say about the whole package). And despite the fact that I kicked off the currently quite popular thread on here about the shambolic New Order on-line store with an almighty moan about how crap they were at gettting Restless to me and losing my order details in the process, they even managed to deliver the box to me on time (even though my store account didn't ever manage to register that I had ordered it!).

That doesn't take away the fact that the Warners run on-line NO store remains a cut-price, badly run piece of crap, and I think they would admit it if they could — but the monkeys there did manage to post my box to me without getting too much mashed banana on it... and my FLAC download went smoothly, so happy days ;)

Sound-wise — I probably have tin ears or something, but the over-heavy compression some are complaining about is not bothering my auditory centres, either on the album or the box — certainly not to the extent that I would attempt to 'remaster' any of it myself. But then I've always preferred to listen first and decide whether I like something rather than let the way the waveforms look colour my judgement. I appreciate that not everyone feels the same, though...

While someone from Mute was assisting me with a digital download issue, I took the opportunity to politely comment on the perceived quality issues with the box set. Their response was actually quite informative and has had me rethink my opinion on the item. I don't want to quote them verbatim, but the essence of their response was as follows:

• Mute and Peter Saville spent a long time reviewing options for the box set, looking at traditional designs and things Mute had previously released.

• After examining the options, Peter wanted to do something completely unique that had not been done before.

• His idea was to mimic an archival box used by museums and even the British monarchy for archiving items. These types of boxes are typically constructed in the 10s and 20s, as opposed to the 100s and 1,000s.

• The "Music Complete" boxes were hand assembled using of the thickest available acid-free cardstock (i.e., so the contents inside won't yellow). So, the materials were not cheap, nor was the construction thereof.

• The type of materials used had not ever been folded at this size/dimension previously, which required the very specific positioning of the wire stitching/staples.

• It was not intended to stand up comfortably with the rest of one's record collection, but be an objet d'art on its own.

• Per the label representative, the project was done working closely with Saville and very much in keeping with the original ethos of Factory, Joy Division, and New Order.

Just thought I'd share these comments for what they're worth. And just a note from me personally, the whole 33 vs. 45 RPM misprinting - that happens A LOT on records across the board.

-Mike

steinomite wrote:

• The "Music Complete" boxes were hand assembled using of the thickest available acid-free cardstock (i.e., so the contents inside won't yellow). So, the materials were not cheap, nor was the construction thereof.

• The type of materials used had not ever been folded at this size/dimension previously, which required the very specific positioning of the wire stitching/staples.

The staples have to have been put in by a programmed machine though surely? They may be ugly (matter of opinion) but they are exactly evenly spaced and placed at exact measured spots.A human/humans couldn't get hundreds of the things over numerous box sets all exactly in the right spot and also without putting them in at a wonky angle on occasion.

Many thanks for the info, really interesting to get some insight into the thoughts , plans and manufacture of the box set.

Fotzepolitic wrote:

The staples have to have been put in by a programmed machine though surely? They may be ugly (matter of opinion) but they are exactly evenly spaced and placed at exact measured spots.A human/humans couldn't get hundreds of the things over numerous box sets all exactly in the right spot and also without putting them in at a wonky angle on occasion.

Many thanks for the info, really interesting to get some insight into the thoughts , plans and manufacture of the box set.

I am not going to claim to know the answer to your question. The Mute representative did not go into quite that much detail. If a machine was used to staple or do the wire stitching on the boxes, it is, however, conceivable that the device was hand operated. If literally assembled by hand, there could have also been pre-made marks or holes on the paper showing where the stitches should go. This is all pure speculation though on my part.

-Mike

steinomite wrote:

Fotzepolitic wrote:

The staples have to have been put in by a programmed machine though surely? They may be ugly (matter of opinion) but they are exactly evenly spaced and placed at exact measured spots.A human/humans couldn't get hundreds of the things over numerous box sets all exactly in the right spot and also without putting them in at a wonky angle on occasion.

Many thanks for the info, really interesting to get some insight into the thoughts , plans and manufacture of the box set.

I am not going to claim to know the answer to your question. The Mute representative did not go into quite that much detail. If a machine was used to staple or do the wire stitching on the boxes, it is, however, conceivable that the device was hand operated. If literally assembled by hand, there could have also been pre-made marks or holes on the paper showing where the stitches should go. This is all pure speculation though on my part.

-Mike

Ah good point, yeah maybe there was pre- made marks for the staples.

All in all i'm fairly happy with the box set.Yeah maybe it could have been a little better but i'm ok with it.It's something different and not something New Order have done before for an album though there was the white linen Factory boxes i suppose but that was on a much smaller scale with just a cassette inside.I don't think the box itself is "days away from falling apart" as one scaremonger said.

BazG wrote:

Hugo Egon Balder wrote:

I heard they will sell it on Amazon, maybe for less - so that could be an option for the ones hesitating to buy it?!

It's £75.99 on Amazon UK and available from 27/11.

I fell for the trick that it was going to be exclusive to the NO store and was told the run was limited by Mute so I parted with my cash over 4 months ago for fear of missing out. Once bitten...

Also on Recordstore.co.uk for £69.99 + postage (£3.95 standard delivery or £6.95 courrier).

I like to think that the designs on each of the 5 vinyl within the box set relate to 5 singles from the album. We've already had Restless as per sleeve 1, TF as per sleeve 2. Continuing the theme High Line, Academic and Superheated with the corresponding designs from each vinyl.

Hopefully with extended mix 2 of each of these - for me Academic extended is the best piece on the boxset but they are all class in their own right, will take another in-house take rather than half arsed remixes every time.

Motherwell Ordah wrote: I like to think that the designs on each of the 5 vinyl within the box set relate to 5 singles from the album. We've already had Restless as per sleeve 1, TF as per sleeve 2. Continuing the theme High Line, Academic and Superheated with the corresponding designs from each vinyl.

Hopefully with extended mix 2 of each of these - for me Academic extended is the best piece on the boxset but they are all class in their own right, will take another in-house take rather than half arsed remixes every time.

Fleece the fans

Sign me up!

Music Complete Boxset signed

Perhaps it was the universe responding to those brutal AU shipping fees.

depthcharge wrote: Sign me up!

Music Complete Boxset signed

Perhaps it was the universe responding to those brutal AU shipping fees.

Woohoo, u dirtah---angel ! Congrats

You might be the only owner of signed copy in Oz..!!??

I bought 2 boxsets but both turned out blanko...

Motherwell Ordah wrote: I like to think that the designs on each of the 5 vinyl within the box set relate to 5 singles from the album. We've already had Restless as per sleeve 1, TF as per sleeve 2. Continuing the theme High Line, Academic and Superheated with the corresponding designs from each vinyl.

Hopefully with extended mix 2 of each of these - for me Academic extended is the best piece on the boxset but they are all class in their own right, will take another in-house take rather than half arsed remixes every time.

they're not in house mixes... all of them were done with outside mixers.

new order's own mixes are very basic, and simplistic.

later -1

Sideways To The Sun wrote:

Sound-wise — I probably have tin ears or something, but the over-heavy compression some are complaining about is not bothering my auditory centres, either on the album or the box — certainly not to the extent that I would attempt to 'remaster' any of it myself. But then I've always preferred to listen first and decide whether I like something rather than let the way the waveforms look colour my judgement. I appreciate that not everyone feels the same, though...

well, i listen to them first too... and i can still tell that everything is mastered way too loud, and has a 'flat' sound just like everything in the last 2 decades.. the waveforms just confirm that.

unless you listen to them on headphones, or a good stereo, you wouldn't probably notice.

or unless you are listening on cheap earbuds, or mp3's version, you wouldn't care either.

i'd rather have the actual music, as near to what is was originally supposed to sound like, hence the remastering of the tracks.

later -1

steinomite wrote: While someone from Mute was assisting me with a digital download issue, I took the opportunity to politely comment on the perceived quality issues with the box set. Their response was actually quite informative and has had me rethink my opinion on the item. I don't want to quote them verbatim, but the essence of their response was as follows:

• Mute and Peter Saville spent a long time reviewing options for the box set, looking at traditional designs and things Mute had previously released.

• After examining the options, Peter wanted to do something completely unique that had not been done before.

• His idea was to mimic an archival box used by museums and even the British monarchy for archiving items. These types of boxes are typically constructed in the 10s and 20s, as opposed to the 100s and 1,000s.

• The "Music Complete" boxes were hand assembled using of the thickest available acid-free cardstock (i.e., so the contents inside won't yellow). So, the materials were not cheap, nor was the construction thereof.

• The type of materials used had not ever been folded at this size/dimension previously, which required the very specific positioning of the wire stitching/staples.

• It was not intended to stand up comfortably with the rest of one's record collection, but be an objet d'art on its own.

• Per the label representative, the project was done working closely with Saville and very much in keeping with the original ethos of Factory, Joy Division, and New Order.

Just thought I'd share these comments for what they're worth. And just a note from me personally, the whole 33 vs. 45 RPM misprinting - that happens A LOT on records across the board.

-Mike

AGREED! 😎

steinomite wrote: The staples have to have been put in by a programmed machine though surely? They may be ugly (matter of opinion) but they are exactly evenly spaced and placed at exact measured spots.A human/humans couldn't get hundreds of the things over numerous box sets all exactly in the right spot and also without putting them in at a wonky angle on occasion.

I used to work for a printing business and we had stapling machines which were controlled via remote so the staple angle would be locked in place, but then you'd hold the materials down by hand on top of a printed measuring grid for reference. We also had similar machines for cutting and drilling holes. You're correct about there inevitably being a mistake if doing several hundred by hand, but we'd always produce a few extra as replacements in case there were any errors.

negative1 wrote:

Motherwell Ordah wrote: I like to think that the designs on each of the 5 vinyl within the box set relate to 5 singles from the album. We've already had Restless as per sleeve 1, TF as per sleeve 2. Continuing the theme High Line, Academic and Superheated with the corresponding designs from each vinyl.

Hopefully with extended mix 2 of each of these - for me Academic extended is the best piece on the boxset but they are all class in their own right, will take another in-house take rather than half arsed remixes every time.

they're not in house mixes... all of them were done with outside mixers.

new order's own mixes are very basic, and simplistic.

later -1

Hmm. Yes i know who mixed the extended versions. Outside mixers? Do you mean its not New Order - well theres a long list of those involved in the album who are not New Order. The continuity in the extended mixes as part of the overall Music Complete project, result is in keeping with the sound / feel of the original, thats obviously been the brief by the band and undertaken by those who were for the most part involved in the album. In-house.

Don't understand what you mean when you say NO own mixes are very basic and simplistic, care to explain?

Motherwell Ordah wrote:

negative1 wrote:

Motherwell Ordah wrote: I like to think that the designs on each of the 5 vinyl within the box set relate to 5 singles from the album. We've already had Restless as per sleeve 1, TF as per sleeve 2. Continuing the theme High Line, Academic and Superheated with the corresponding designs from each vinyl.

Hopefully with extended mix 2 of each of these - for me Academic extended is the best piece on the boxset but they are all class in their own right, will take another in-house take rather than half arsed remixes every time.

they're not in house mixes... all of them were done with outside mixers.

new order's own mixes are very basic, and simplistic.

later -1

Hmm. Yes i know who mixed the extended versions. Outside mixers? Do you mean its not New Order - well theres a long list of those involved in the album who are not New Order. The continuity in the extended mixes as part of the overall Music Complete project, result is in keeping with the sound / feel of the original, thats obviously been the brief by the band and undertaken by those who were for the most part involved in the album. In-house.

Don't understand what you mean when you say NO own mixes are very basic and simplistic, care to explain?

if you listen to any of the mixes they have done of their own songs or been involved with.

they usually do just a basic 'extend' or convert to instrumental/dub mix.. rarely making the song enhanced.

here's a small sample:

temptation / hurt basically longer versions of the each song

Engineer – Pete Woolliscroft

blue monday / the beach : Engineer – Michael Johnson Engineer [Assistant] – Barry Sage, Mark Boyne Producer – New Order

basically no frills versions of both songs

thieves like us - again, just a longer version

Engineer – Mike Johnson Mastered By – MEL Producer, Written-By – New Order

thieves like us (instrumental) [on murder] again, basically the same song, no vocals

perfect kiss / kiss of death

Engineer – Michael Johnson Producer – New Order Written-By – New Order

similar versions of the each song, but extended and rearranged

regret - the new order mix Engineer [Remix Engineer] – Owen Morris

a slightly longer version of the song

etc.

the vast majority of their remixes involves outside remixers who created vastly remixed, and different versions of the songs..

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

gareth jones had involvement with 4 of the extended mixes, and none of the album, so they were going to outside producers and remixers for some of the tracks...

if you want to involve everyone that is remotely related to the tracks, i think that waters down what you call in house.

this is a big collaborative project, and is not like any of their other albums, which had a much smaller set of engineers and producers.

i don't see it as being very cohesive in production, unlike previous albums.

later -1

negative1 wrote:

here's a small sample:

temptation / hurt basically longer versions of the each song

Engineer – Pete Woolliscroft

The 7" and 12" versions of Temptation were recorded together in a single take, but then chopped into two segments. The 12" isn't just a longer version, it's actually the latter half of the recording. It's quite an odd approach to recording, but I guess they were on a budget. Hurt was done in one take as well, but just mixed differently into two different versions.

depthcharge wrote: Sign me up!

Perhaps it was the universe responding to those brutal AU shipping fees.

Congratulations. The universe didn't give me the same response, but that expensive purchase was definitely worthwhile.

Moderne Decay wrote:

negative1 wrote:

here's a small sample:

temptation / hurt basically longer versions of each song

Engineer – Pete Woolliscroft

The 7" and 12" versions of Temptation were recorded together in a single take, but then chopped into two segments. The 12" isn't just a longer version, it's actually the latter half of the recording. It's quite an odd approach to recording, but I guess they were on a budget. Hurt was done in one take as well, but just mixed differently into two different versions.

right, i remember that.

however, sometimes people think the 7 inch of hurt is a different mix.

discogs: Hurt on the original UK 7" is not a simple edit of the longer UK 12" version, but is in fact a different mix.

anyways, now i wonder if the 'everythings gone green (edit)' on the procession 7 inch is different from the 12 inch in structure,

produced by : martin hannett

that would also have been an example.

later -1

Moderne Decay wrote:

negative1 wrote:

here's a small sample:

temptation / hurt basically longer versions of the each song

Engineer – Pete Woolliscroft

The 7" and 12" versions of Temptation were recorded together in a single take, but then chopped into two segments. The 12" isn't just a longer version, it's actually the latter half of the recording. It's quite an odd approach to recording, but I guess they were on a budget. Hurt was done in one take as well, but just mixed differently into two different versions.

Thought Stephen put that rumour to bed stating it was actually two different takes/recordings?

I wonder if Bernard has sung transmission live, I think it would be a great joy to end the night after temptation and crystal, close range ,and dream attack , special, ruined in a day , everything else on the set list, 10 more, and academic and the game must be squeezed in somehow . As for the box for downloading the variations, I live in a miniature home so the box must multitask . If it is analog analog analog it is worth hearing on something phenomenal to match the songs. neworder is the best and fan friendliest band , and analog is the most friendly format. Also as a thought , if neworder played Vegas for a few months a whole bunch of songs could be heard live , and I could drive over in a few hours. If in London , or the Faroe Islands for safety, those many many dozens of songs would be a lot of fun to hear , having been honed. Skye is ok too, as an homage to the bunny men.

God,

I haven't posted anything for years. But I'm back now.

Does anyone know if the Box Set from Amazon and Recordstore will have the digital downloads as well?

As a purely voluntary service, I have been dedicated in checking that the box set mixes have not been posted on any illegal download sites. Of course if I were to find that they were, and verify them, I would report them to the appropriate authorities, as due diligence requires. But you have all been very good people and have not shared them on any such sites, at least so far as I have been able to determine. Good show chaps.

Andy wrote:

Moderne Decay wrote:

negative1 wrote:

here's a small sample:

temptation / hurt basically longer versions of the each song

Engineer – Pete Woolliscroft

The 7" and 12" versions of Temptation were recorded together in a single take, but then chopped into two segments. The 12" isn't just a longer version, it's actually the latter half of the recording. It's quite an odd approach to recording, but I guess they were on a budget. Hurt was done in one take as well, but just mixed differently into two different versions.

Thought Stephen put that rumour to bed stating it was actually two different takes/recordings?

I don't ever remember reading about that. I've always just thought that the 7" fades right as the 12" begins. Maybe if I'm bored enough this weekend, I'll mess with some of my music software and run them through a compressor to hear if they can actually merge together or not.