New Order - Movement

This is probably the least played of New Order's albums and is something of a staging post between the old and the new sounds. All the elements that would bring them success are in place. The intensity remains from the Joy Division sound as well as the space within the music. The production, thanks to Martin Hannett and the band themselves sounds incredible.

At this point Sumner vocals are stuggling for their own sound, on Movement he sounds like he's trying to approximate Ian Curtis, its not till later singles that he really finds his own voice. All that's missing from Movement are the tunes that characterise later releases, only Dreams Never End hints at the bright poppiness to come.

This is very much a winter record, sounds good driving around in the car in the city at night, an interesting release in view of the direction the band took in later years.