GET READY

New Order (album)

I’ve been reliably informed that good things come to those who wait. It took four years for Depeche Mode to bring out Exciter and, let’s be fair, it was just a wee bit disappointing. Contrast that with the piffling eight months it took Radiohead to follow up Kid A with Amnesiac, the latter being a magnificent body of work (mind you, Kid A wasn’t exactly Michael Bolton’s Greatest Hits either). What does this prove? It proves that sayings like “Good things come to those who wait” are complete tosh, which means I can’t use it to start this review. Oh well, best start again then.

Hello again. New Order are back and it only took eight years. Make the most of this album then as there’s a pattern developing. Two years elasped between Substance and Technique, four between Technique and Republic and now eight years have gone by and here, finally, we have Get Ready. Using a simple mathematical equation it is possible to prove that New Order’s next album will appear in 2017, so Get Ready had better be good. Well, all the elements are in place, which is a good start. Peter Hook’s bass guitar is still stamping its personality over each song, Bernard Sumner still comes out with some entertaining things to say (try “I’ve had the Devil round to tea” during 60 Miles An Hour) and it’s easily the most guitar-driven album since Brotherhood. Admittedly Get Ready isn’t anywhere near as energetic as that, but what do you expect? It’s been fifteen years since that came out. That said, there’s still the odd nice surprise. I offer you Crystal as one. The radio version sounds very nice and everything, but it’s a very sad rump indeed compared to the full seven minute version that opens the album. It isn’t just extended, entire sequences are added and the whole thing stands up with the best stuff they’ve done. I’m not kidding either. Billy Corgan pops by to lend a hand on Turn My Way – he even sings the first verse – and while you’d expect a song called Vicious Streak to be as mad and fast as the songs that come before it, it’s actually rather gentle as, for once, keyboards take centre stage. Primitive Notion follows on and features what clearly sounds like Stephen Morris going bonkers on the drums. As for Slow Jam, well how about “The sea was very rough / It made me feel sick / But I like that kind of stuff / It beats arithmetic”? Westlife would never dare sing that ever, but New Order just don’t care and never have which is probably why that verse works in the context of the song. Now, if you’re a Primal Scream fan you may be interested in Rock The Shack. Bobby Gillespie does a guest spot, thereby paying back Bernard for his cameo on Exterminator, and ends up giving New Order possibly the nearest thing they’ll ever get to a proper rock and roll song. More to the point, it sounds like everyone concerned is having a damned good time. Don’t worry, there’s only three songs to go now. Someone Like You is the next offering and, for a long time it sounds as though it’s going to be a moody, upbeat instrumental but then the singing kicks in. It’s almost dancey as well, given a good remix this could really do the business. Close Range is more of the same only not quite as moody, whilst Run Wild (the closing track – you can go soon) is a nice easy-going number to end proceedings, much like Every Little Counts was (only without the descent into complete chaos that happened at the end) and acts as a perfect come-down from all the wigging out that’s preceded it. To be honest, this isn’t their greatest album, but look at the evidence. By the time Republic came out, the band were at each other’s throats and for most of the last eight years have barely acknowledged each others’ existence, so the fact that the album’s as good as it is (and let it be said that it is very good indeed) is hugely impressive on its own. I’ve heard a fair few albums this year, but so far I’ve only heard one that’s better. Right, that’s that done. So how have you been?

In case you’re wondering, all that didn’t appear in the ’paper – not enough room. I had to cut it down just a little so it’d fit, that version is coming up now.

It only took eight years then. Make the most of this album as there’s a pattern developing. Two years elapsed between Substance and Technique, four before Republic appeared and now eight years have gone by and here, finally, is Get Ready. Using a simple mathematical equation it is possible to prove that New Order’s next album will appear in 2017, so this’d better be good. Well, all the elements are in place, which is a good start. Peter Hook’s bass guitar is still stamping its personality over each song, Bernard Sumner still comes out with some entertaining things to say (try “I’ve had the Devil round to tea” during 60 Miles An Hour) and it’s easily the most guitar-driven album since Brotherhood. To be honest, this isn’t their greatest album, but look at the evidence. By the time Republic came out, the band were at each other’s throats and for most of the last eight years have barely acknowledged each others’ existence, so the fact that the album’s as good as it is (and it is very good indeed) is hugely impressive on its own. Besides, do you really need me to recommend it?