NewOrder* – (The Best Of) NewOrder

Honestly super proud of making this purchase, it's almost a dream lineup come true, being put in an order that just seems right like it's own fleeting story. Sounds absolutely amazing and isn't just a pack of the go-to songs, some tracks are unique mixes you might not get on streaming services and such, making it all the more an experience worth getting your hands on. Dare I say it, what is heard here is way better than the hefty pack of 12" mixes put into Substance/Singles. It's more abridged, but it packs more punch being the smaller compilation.
Sublime.

Finally found the right copy of this at a price I found acceptable, having held out for a long time because all of these tracks appear in other formats and release that I own; I bought this out of nostalgia and to add to my collection. Personally speaking as a longtime fan, I just don't see how this release is selling for so much money, despite it being a rare find today. However, sound quality is excellent in that the midrange and vocals are very well balanced to the highs and lows. Physically, the disc pressings are flat, labels on center, sleeves/jacket are beautifully done, all evidence of time being spent putting it all together.

Given that vinyl was a dying format in 1994 - impressed with this release. Dynamic and crystalline mastering. Discs themselves are flat, centred and with fairly low surface noise.

Substance is the logical go-to entry point, but you don't always want to listen to a bunch of 12" mixes one after the other. Singles has every OG A-side, but feels very musically uneven, and frankly I've never managed to listen through either disc of it in full. (the best of) NewOrder is therefore the pick for a well-selected, albeit perhaps overly pop-focused, look through their catalogue and was my own introduction to the band.

It does however have a few flaws:

- The inclusion of remixes of key iconic songs Bizarre Love Triangle and Blue Monday over the much superior originals. I will concede that True Faith '94 does have it's merits however.

- The frankly weird choice of not including any version at all of Temptation, given it's then recent use in Trainspotting. A somewhat moody song it may be, especially when considering it's filmic connotations, but who can resist singing along to "Up down/turn around/please don't let me hit the ground" and "Oh, you've got green eyes/oh you've got grey eyes" etc.).

- World In Motion.

I've fixed this enough for my own designs by making a playlist using the track order of this compilation, but consisting of tracks from the 2016 remaster of Singles, drawing on the previous year's remaster of Low-life and the 2023 Substance remaster for Vanishing Point and 1963 respectively. Given my personal disinterest in spectator sports, I've opted to remove the original closing track, and have inserted Ceremony Version 1 and the 7"s of Everything's Gone Green and Temptation after Touched by the Hand of God; closing on the original 12" of Blue Monday.

This for me scratches the itch of a more tightly sequenced run-through of New Order singles, whilst allaying concerns of misrepresentation, and doesn't insult the listener by way of failing to include any of their early singles.

I’ve got pretty much every New Order LP going, including compilations and live albums. This, alongside Total, is the best sounding compilation of the lot. Well worth the inflated cost these days. Very clean sound, great separation, lovely pressing, quiet as can be. The mastering suits the fragile New Order sound perfectly. It’s not in your face, you can hear every beautiful element. Get it!

Why is Vanishing Point listed as being released in 1991? it was on Technique from 1989. And The Perfect Kiss was 1985 not 1986.

i really need the t-shirt ina large , i saw it in brisbane in 1996 and didn't get it .

My copy is similar to Variant 2 except runout says *M1 S1 instead of *M1 S2.

Great compilation! The sound quality is fantastic and I love the 94 versions of some songs.

Looking for the t-shirt that came with this. Please message me if you'd sell it!