ELECTRONIC: Threat... or Menace??!!

I've seen all sorts of polls on JD vs NO or Revenge vs O2 on this site, but where exactly does Electronic fit into all this? For me, Bernard was taking NO's "message" to the next level and Johhny's increadible talent only pushed things up a notch (or 10). If we can't decide if Joy Division and New Order are the same band, where does that leave Electronic? Certainly not as a "side project", since at the time no one knew NO would ever reform. So...where?

didn't the boys decide to form electronic around 1988? if so, it would be more of a side project, or maybe barney just wanted to be in two bands to try a different path.

Very true there Agentwoody...Marr and Barney got together around 85 while doing Brotherhood. In fact, that tune on Electronic's 1st LP, "Tighten Up" I think?? was writtin for Brotherhood originally but Barney decided it didn't really work for NO but would in fact be better off with Johnny's guitars...so one could argue this one even farther back.

But I don't think we'll hafta worry 'bout that any more...NO is kicking and Johnny just released his new CD with his new band. So it's almost a moot point.

Bernards quoted as saying that with Electronic he could be afforded the obsessiveness that he wasnt granted with the democracy of a band, basically pushing the music in a direction he solely wanted it to go without the comprimise involved with NewOrder.

Also, mathematically, JD has 3/4 of NO & vice versa.

Electronic (good as it was) was only ever 1/4 of JD or NO plus a bit of the Smiths, PSB & Kraftwerk on occasions.

Electronic was for me, definitely a side project. I enjoyed their work immensely, but never as much as Neworder. :)

I think its very easy to get sucked in by Electronic's music as of course a huge aspect of the music has to be lyrics and the singing. With this being Barneys voice its not hard to almost believe you are listening to NewOrder - its just the lack of Hooky's bass and Steves outstanding drumming that sets it apart.

That is why when i listen to NewOrder however much i love Electronic it is like the missing pieces of the jigsaw have been put into place!

I'd also bitterly dispute anybody that said Barney wrote better for NewOrder as i think thats absurd as, if anything he's being more himself on an Electronic track what with the freedom he had made for himself.

But back to the point, NewOrder and only NewOrder make the complete picture and no side project can emulate or equal that.

The earliest formulation of Electronic was meant to feature Terry Hall, as well as Barney and Neil Tennant. There would have been a rotating panel of vocalists on the single releases. Terry characteristically changed his mind, but undertook a similar project, Vegas, with Dave Stewart a couple of years later (source: NME interview with The Other Two, Oct. 1993. The remarks were by Gillian Gilbert).

Electronic critiqued: they got off to a great start and their first album and associated singles form the bridge between Technique and Republic. Unfortunately, Raise The Pressure sucked, with the best songs appearing on single B-sides (especially the ones with Karl Bartos guesting).Still, Twisted Tenderness was a tolerable album, with several balls-out cuts indicating the direction which the next batch of NO material would take.

My favourite release outside of NO was Revenge's Gun World Porn, and I have fond memories of seeing both bands at the Cities In The Park show, 1991, where Tennant and Lowe guested with Electronic.

Originally posted by THE HIM Electronic critiqued: they got off to a great start and their first album and associated singles form the bridge between Technique and Republic.

IMHO 'disappointed' is one of the finest pieces of music barney's ever written (or co-written, as the case may be).

Originally posted by Wayne Morris I've seen all sorts of polls on JD vs NO or Revenge vs O2 on this site, but where exactly does Electronic fit into all this? For me, Bernard was taking NO's "message" to the next level and Johhny's increadible talent only pushed things up a notch (or 10). If we can't decide if Joy Division and New Order are the same band, where does that leave Electronic? Certainly not as a "side project", since at the time no one knew NO would ever reform. So...where?

Nowhere... I wish they never existed.

Barney was traveling with a tape of Electronic on the Technique tour (heard at Red Rocks). As I understand it, the idea was sprung on the Brotherhood Tour in 1987 while on the west coast. "Getting Away With It" came out before the end of 1989. Interesting that the decade opened with "Love Will Tear Us Apart" and closed ""Getting Away With It". How auspicious. I love the Electronic contribution to the NO arena. Had it not been for Barney doing this, there probably never would have been Revenge, Monaco, the Other Two, and most important - the NO revival.

Originally posted by AgentWood > Originally posted by THE HIM> > Electronic critiqued: they got off to a great start and their first album and associated singles form the bridge between Technique and Republic.

IMHO 'disappointed' is one of the finest pieces of music barney's ever written (or co-written, as the case may be).

I think Neil wrote the lyrics to Disappointed. He's said that some of it is based on Desenchantee (a very cool song) by Mylene Farmer. Either way, Disappointed is one of the best songs EVER by ANYONE, imo.

:D:D:D:D:D anita

Well thank you all for straightening out the timeline for me and your input. Bernard & Johnny made some truly inspired music and I've always felt that Johnny's multi-tracked swirling guitar complimented Bernard's efforts perfectly. Still, as was said there is no replacement for Hooky's fat bass and Steve's super-precise drumming. I almost wish Johnny's new band flops and he hooks up with NO sometime in the future. Now if Gillian would only come back too, that would be my dream band!!

electronic for me is a side project with its own unique sound, and one of my favorites for sure

Don't expect Johnny Marr to join NO anytime soon. Perhaps when both are touring and happen to be in the same town, same time - a stage appearance only. Look for them to play a version of “Get the Message”. Yes, Disappointed was co-penned with Neil Tennant. Yes, it does remain one of the best songs ever written. Neil Tennant was at a high point creatively in the early 90's. So was Bernard Sumner. As Johnny Marr and Neil Tennant continue to collaborate on current PSB material, I wouldn't be surprised if Neil showed up on stage one night also - look for a version of "Patience of a Saint" should that accident happen. Lucky us.

The Him Cheers fella, some good points there :)... but... Its a little harsh to say RTP sucked there are some great tracks on there and although it was indeed a little "over cooked" (by Barney's own admission when comparing it to the different approach to writing TT) it is still a worthy collection of tunes.