Be A Rebel

After a few listens my thoughts....

It’s definitely a grower. Maybe a bit too poppy for my tastes on initial listen but then it grabs you.

It does miss a bit of low end......

Great vocal from Barney.

Great outro Could almost Be like a Dream Attack With a decent remix

Definitely more like an Electronic track.

If it was on MC not as ‘good’ as Restless, singularity, plastic, tutti fruit, stray dog, academic, nothing but a fool, the game (extended) superheated.

It would be a decent album track. BUT look at new order single releases all sublime apart from Jet stream.

After Jetstream and world in motion least favourite singles state of the nation, people on the high line, blue Monday 88 this record sits with those releases at the moment, but it’s early days, may grow on me more.

Looking forward to the remixes. The game off MC was greatly improved via extended version

Hopefully will drive them on to make one final album or at least another couple of one off singles. Per NO Facebook site one of the posters state there is one other unfinished song from MC sessions.

Feels like this may have been only Bernard, Steve and Gillian involved in this, certainly no bass guitar!

Listened a few times more since last posts. Ignore any negativity in previous posts, it’s just great having them back And it’s a good sign I’m enjoying the track more I play it rather than less. The real test is the effect the song has in a few months.

With PC&L box set, remastered singles, be a rebel 12”, London concert at o2 next November, new order crew t shirt, with the possibility of Alexandra place live dvd the amount of money spent on new order is certainly keeping them in a life they are accustomed to! But then again the importance of the band on my life....well worth it

The Shadow wrote: Feels like this may have been only Bernard, Steve and Gillian involved in this, certainly no bass guitar!

It is a bit like Electronic meets The Other Two.Electrother Two?

Picking up more now on repeated listens on some really top quality synth flourishes.Kind of well, silvery synth sound is the way i'd describe it.The drums in places really do sound like that no.1 theme tune jingle.

Bernard's state of the nation/world/society lyrics seem to be about the anger some people have these days and where does it come from, also addressing mental health issues maybe? .But a positive and upbeat vibe to the song.Infectious.

perspexorange wrote: All looks great.

Not sure I'll go for the 12" (*), but would definitely snaffle up a CD single.

* May be subject to change.

figured there would be remixes eventually, they've been on a roll, since the plethora of them from the last album.

now, for new order collectors, you will HAVE TO BUY the vinyl, just for the sake of having a 'LIMITED' edition.

yes, i already ordered it, but will never open it or play it. because if/when there is a cd single and the digital releases, there will be no point (unless something is exclusive).

although there were a ton of colored vinyl releases for the last 4 singles, there was a 'limited' edition 7 inch picture disc of 'people on the high line', that had an exclusive claptone radio edit. however, they are NOT rare, and not expensive, with plenty of copies still around. i havent even bothered to rip the exclusive track yet. will get around to that at some point.

later -1

negative1 wrote: there was a 'limited' edition 7 inch picture disc of 'people on the high line', that had an exclusive claptone radio edit. however, they are NOT rare, and not expensive, with plenty of copies still around. i havent even bothered to rip the exclusive track yet. will get around to that at some point.

That picture disc also featured the People On The Highline "Video Edit", a slightly longer version of the radio edit. That and the Claptone edit were both were nice versions.

The picture discs came with a download code for both edits, so no need to rip - good thing too, as the sound quality was awful, even if it did look great on my turntable!

I agree with a lot of the comments. The intro just seems to jump in at the wrong time. Some of the synths sound a bit twee and bland and like something off GarageBand.

I think it’s an ok track. Reminds me of raise the pressure era type programmed dancey type music.

Bernards vocals are pretty good but the line about the “it’s all we got, but it’s quite a lot” and “it’s a family affair” make my eyes roll every time. At least there’s no “hey there you, watcha doing” present.

There’s some nice choppy guitar during 2nd verse but it’s a bit in the background and doesn’t feature again (which is a shame).

It’s a 6/10 for me. A decent remix could push that higher.

The synth chords on the verse sound like a straight recycle of some distant memory...

is it bro wrote: The intro just seems to jump in at the wrong time.

It's now bugging me even more. On the full length version it totally sounds like a mistake. Especially as on the "edit" the drop is clean (albeit still sounds too early)

Maybe Bernard and Steve were so busy doing their own mixes that they forgot they never fixed the intro on the original mix

ROCKET MICK wrote:

MINTY MINT

They'll be engraving that into your headstone one day ROCKET MICK.

negative1 wrote:

although there were a ton of colored vinyl releases for the last 4 singles, there was a 'limited' edition 7 inch picture disc of 'people on the high line', that had an exclusive claptone radio edit. however, they are NOT rare, and not expensive, with plenty of copies still around.

The rare POTHL was the clear 12" version of that 7". Hen's teeth that one.

Same tracklisting.

worth celebrating we got something new out from these guys n gal, and like everyone else im willing it to be worthy of the NO name

melody of the its a rebel is really strong but regardless of the circumstances in the recording process through lockdown, to my ears the track suffers from really disappointingly bland and generic sounds used throughout. i mean, another italio house riff barney? the number of times (and albums) this has been trotted out... it sounded dated in back in 1996 on rtp contrast against the freshness of MC and the reworkings for MIF, it just sounds so... nice?

more surprising when listening to steves marvellous recent take on maps both sides, adds some great instrumentation and off kilter sounds to the existing and chucks in a thumping a kick ass beat. shame they didnt do the same with their own track! hopeful the mixes do the track justice..

Steve on Shaun Keaveny show on 6Music just now talking about the song and seemed to imply the live DVD out at end of year.Go to around 2 hour 20 min (3.20pm) https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_6music now to catch show live and rewind .I guess the catch up after show option later on will have a different link address.

Wow so many negatives comments about this song, we should be Thankful that we got such a great song by them, if it is that easy to make a great catchy song like this then lets see you make it, it is not a Classic New order song but still a great song.

Linus Solanki wrote: it is not a Classic New order song but still a great song.

Yep, agreed.Think that's how i feel about it.Not a classic but still great.

Fotz wrote:

Linus Solanki wrote: it is not a Classic New order song but still a great song.

Yep, agreed.Think that's how i feel about it.Not a classic but still great.

Yep - me too.

I'm also really grateful that we've finally got something new, after five years.

I'm very happy to have something new.

Knowing this was intended to drop for the joint NO/PSB tour, I don't mind that it sounds like Electronic.

Yes, it's missing a good "bass as lead instrument" bassline. I know Tom doesn't want to imitate Hook's sound. Maybe this will sound better live.

What I really miss are thick '80s drum machine sounds. The wimpy almost-a-hand-clap snare doesn't do it for me.

If they'd broken out the Oberheim drum machine, put Tom front and center, and strengthened the intro this would go down as a classic single.

It's catchy, I've listened to it on repeat quite a bit. The vocal melody is strong.

Fotz wrote: Steve on Shaun Keaveny show on 6Music just now talking about the song and seemed to imply the live DVD out at end of year.Go to around 2 hour 20 min (3.20pm) https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_6music now to catch show live and rewind .I guess the catch up after show option later on will have a different link address.

Thanks for this. Also, looks like Hooky was interviewed just before in a separate news article on the Haçienda.

They also made mention that Hooky will also be on Chris Hawkins' programme tomorrow:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000mb6t

perspexorange wrote:

Fotz wrote: Steve on Shaun Keaveny show on 6Music just now talking about the song and seemed to imply the live DVD out at end of year.Go to around 2 hour 20 min (3.20pm) https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_6music now to catch show live and rewind .I guess the catch up after show option later on will have a different link address.

Thanks for this. Also, looks like Hooky was interviewed just before in a separate news article on the Haçienda.

They also made mention that Hooky will also be on Chris Hawkins' programme tomorrow:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000mb6t

Yes i caught the bit before with Hooky and Hacienda stuff.Shaun Keaveny said , after Be A Rebel was played in full, that more of the chat with Steve will be aired sometime but didn't say when.Think Keaveny might have said the second part of chat with Steve will be about the live DVD but not sure now without playing back the part of show.

50poundnote wrote: I'm very happy to have something new.

Knowing this was intended to drop for the joint NO/PSB tour, I don't mind that it sounds like Electronic. Yes, it's missing a good "bass as lead instrument" bassline. I know Tom doesn't want to imitate Hook's sound. Maybe this will sound better live.What I really miss are thick '80s drum machine sounds. The wimpy almost-a-hand-clap snare doesn't do it for me.

If they'd broken out the Oberheim drum machine, put Tom front and center, and strengthened the intro this would go down as a classic single.

It's catchy, I've listened to it on repeat quite a bit. The vocal melody is strong.

Agreed on both points, the drum programming is too polite and Tom doesn't seem to feature at all, I certainly can't hear any bass guitar, it's quite amiable though all the same.

It's cool that they dropped a new song out of nowhere, pity they didn't drop an album but I guess it takes them years to make an album nowadays.

Linus Solanki wrote: Wow so many negatives comments about this song, we should be Thankful that we got such a great song by them, if it is that easy to make a great catchy song like this then lets see you make it, it is not a Classic New order song but still a great song.

I agree it’s not easy to write decent catchy songs but the negative comments are only because we care. Music Complete probably took most by surprise at how fantastic, varied, fresh and imaginative it all sounded.

If BAR was originally from the same sessions then we might have expected more from it. It’s a good song and grown on me but it doesn’t stick in my head.

It’s astonishing to be getting music from this group of people after 6 decades (see what I did there). And so I can’t complain and shouldn’t be critical but there you go.

As for throwing down the gauntlet of writing a great catchy song....oh go on then....I’ll give it a go if you will?

aysie wrote: Ah, could listen to the final keyboard sequence there for quite a lot longer.

Me too...and the lovely synth stings throughout are a highlight. Barney's in decent form I guess...I've heard worse. Looking forward to the remixes and the instrumental in particular.

is it bro wrote: At least there’s no “hey there you, watcha doing” present.

Only one 'watcha' this time round lol

50poundnote wrote: I'm very happy to have something new.

Knowing this was intended to drop for the joint NO/PSB tour, I don't mind that it sounds like Electronic.

Yes, it's missing a good "bass as lead instrument" bassline. I know Tom doesn't want to imitate Hook's sound. Maybe this will sound better live.

What I really miss are thick '80s drum machine sounds. The wimpy almost-a-hand-clap snare doesn't do it for me.

If they'd broken out the Oberheim drum machine, put Tom front and center, and strengthened the intro this would go down as a classic single.

It's catchy, I've listened to it on repeat quite a bit. The vocal melody is strong.

They'll just need another new song to release now in it's place, next year, in time for the tour!

daftpunk wrote:

50poundnote wrote: I'm very happy to have something new.

Knowing this was intended to drop for the joint NO/PSB tour, I don't mind that it sounds like Electronic.

Yes, it's missing a good "bass as lead instrument" bassline. I know Tom doesn't want to imitate Hook's sound. Maybe this will sound better live.

What I really miss are thick '80s drum machine sounds. The wimpy almost-a-hand-clap snare doesn't do it for me.

If they'd broken out the Oberheim drum machine, put Tom front and center, and strengthened the intro this would go down as a classic single.

It's catchy, I've listened to it on repeat quite a bit. The vocal melody is strong.

They'll just need another new song to release now in it's place, next year, in time for the tour!

Who knows by next year maybe a new album with all the time they have spending inside and not touring or maybe a new single

Be A Rebel (Parallel Universe Remix)

It's actually really grown on me...was very dissapointed at first

It's missing a hook style bass though....it's not just his sound,it's new part of new orders as one of them said in an interview around the time of MC

Reading the comments people left on the youtube video of Be a rebel so many people are Disappointed with the absence of Peter Hooks Guitar and his sound, but what can you do if the Band has separated, Yes Be A Rebel misses his signature bass for sure , But we can do nothing about it and this will be the NEW New Order sound from now on and many people will be upset by it especially people who like Joy Division and the Harder sound but Let's see What NO does next.

50poundnote wrote: Be A Rebel (Parallel Universe Remix)

Well, he's certainly no Hooky but it gives a good glimpse of what it COULD have sounded like.

50poundnote wrote: Be A Rebel (Parallel Universe Remix)

Sounds like a knuckle dragging thug turning up uninvited at a party and trying to put his choice of music on.