Neworder* ‎– Technique

My favourite album ever, probably. Although I don't listen to it these days; my reasoning is that I am too close to it. But this is perfect music for me.
Bernard signed my CD sleeve - 'Keep on, Bernard Sumner'.
Nice.

Many will find "Technique" the most ideal introduction to the work of New Order with a reason - especially when you were a teenager growing up in the grey world of 1988 and then all of a sudden, "Fine Time" appeared on the telly smashing all of my yesterdays to bits. At first I didn't know what to think of the song itself, but it struck me immediately with its memorable video, synth hooklines at the beginning of the song and those bizarre kind-of Barry White spoken inserts throughout the song.

This was the first time I ever heard of New Order as such, and it was one hell of a fascination... As weird as it may sound, I clearly remember being at school, stating in one of those classmates' memento notebooks (we used to fill these with all kinds of nonsense :)), one of my favourite songs - "New Order - Fine Time". I also remember some people reading my part in the notebook, confusingly asking what kind of a group is that?

After all, back then we were all a typical teenage generation of 1988 - growing up with shitty pop-music of Jason and Kylie, there were Brother Beyond, Bros and Taylor Dayne - so to me, New Order wasn't just a new discovery, it was a reverential kind of experience; it was catchy and pop but it was also dark and subversive.

Even so, I remember this other guy mentioned "Joy Division" for the first time in connection to my tiny mention of New Order... but I didn't care for "Joy Division" at that point. I couldn't care for Joy Division at that point. I was 13 years old and I preferred to have "Fine Time" instead of "Atmosphere".

Everything they delivered previously, helped this album to its most sophisticated sound fusion - a whole that immediately sounded trendy of the time, while at that same time it kept its own timeless quality in years to come.

Despite later efforts that sustain their trademark (Peter Hook's bass, Stephen Morris' drumming and the lethargic singing by Bernard Sumner) - respectful 'Republic' and the stunning comeback of 'Get Ready' ('Waiting For the Siren's Call' sadly isn't my cup of tea), 'Technique' is by far a crucial New Order album they never seem to overcome by means of quality; a simple yet effective mixture of state-of-the-art technology and standard indie-ish sound, still relevant today as it was in the year of its release (brilliant examples of 'Run', 'All the Way' or 'Dream Attack' on one side and then these brilliant dance-numbers of positively devastating proportions - 'Vanishing Point', 'Round & Round' and of course, 'Fine Time' on the other).

Depends how you feel about any New Order album - to me 'Technique' was the door to another listener's dimension. Nothing spectacular about it, but then again - everything sounds spectacular about it.

Perhaps my favorite non-compilation album from New Order. Several reasons for this - it's the most electronic NO release of them all, it INCLUDES a fantastic single "Round & Round", and also hides some gems like "Mr. Disco" or "Vanishing Point". NO understands great pop techniques, and nicely puts them together, releasing a 'dream-come-true' atmosphere that encourages dance moves and imagination work. You will hear some acid-house influences, as well as the typical sound of magic from the pop of the greatest. Highly addictive and recommended.