New Order - Waiting For The Sirens Call

Let's also hope it's less bland than "Get Ready".

Haha, I'm demented, as I kept reading that essentially as "Waiting, [Because] The Sirens Call" without the aprostrophe, which is stupid.

www.neworderonline.com says:

It's been rumoured that the reason why there is no apostrophe in "Sirens" is because the band couldn't agree where it should go, and Saville decided that there wouldn't be any.

But then...

will be called Waiting For The Sirens Call, except that they did add the apostrophe in "Siren's".

< / pedantry >

by "dance-oriented" i'm hoping very much they mean it's a progression from here to stay, which was a blistering return to form and is really the last piece of hope on to which i cling. but i can't even force myself to actually get excited about this album, which is a tragedy.

and the missing apostrophe is fucking me off more than i can explain.

I'm in the "I'm glad that they're not making another rock-oriented album, but I wish they wouldn't try to immitate Technique either" camp.

I'll try to stay as open minded as possible.

oh, was that what get ready was meant to be?

:)

OTM. Trying to be artistic with apostrophes or lack thereof is not very clever or interesting the first place, let alone the fact it's been DONE before, countless times.

They are not waiting for a siren to call !

oh, no, hang on. that didn't happen. fuck. leckie or street or some such past-it twiddler. since when did fucking new order need producers, eh?

BTW: NO completists may be interested in the shameless comp on my blog: stephenage.typepad.com

anyway you slice it, their just dum

Hurrah!

sorry, sorry. i'll stop now.

So while it may sound contradictory given how much I like Get Ready, I am somewhat disappointed by New Order's 'comeback'. It's pretty clear that they are set on cruise control and not really willing to experiment and create *new* things any more. The live experience how is fairly shite - they seem content to trot through pre-programmed versions of all the big ones with Barney warbling along to an autocue. They don't even program their own stuff any more. For anyone who saw them anytime from 80-88, it's a pretty tame experience - they always used to fly by the seat of their pants and created great music that way, both live and in the studio.

What I'd love more than anything from them in 2005 would be a self-produced double album with some real risk-taking experimantation. Think Tago Mago. I shouldn't write off the new LP yet, but it won't be like this. One thing I agree with grimly fiendish about - I think Gill's departure saw some of the magic evaporate.

as for gillian: i argued long and hard on a.m.n-o about this. the wonderful, beautiful thing about new order was that they were more a gang than a band; they were four people who fought and hissed and spat at each other but still came together time and time again to make beautiful music. i still don't know exactly who played what on each song; and i don't care, because it doesn't matter. when one member goes from a group like that, the dynamic is destroyed.

what really galls me is that joy division became new order when ian died because they couldn't carry on as the same band without a key member. i'm sorry, but i can't accept hooky/barney/steve plus phil cunningham as new order, because by their own criterion it's a different entity. yes, ok, joy division was a long time ago ... but some standards should be kept, surely?

Listen to the guitar tones and album flow of Movement and Get Ready back to back and tell me there aren't similarities. The fact that you like one and dislike the other does not automatically make any positive comparison between them invalid; furthermore holding every New Order album up to the "redifine the parameters of sound" criteria is foolish.

i'm sorry: to these ears the guitars on movement sound like a frenzied maelstrom. the guitars on get ready sound like a sludgy mess. the songs on movement are paranoid and edgy. the songs on get ready are contented and fat. the electronics on movement are cold and sparking. the electronics on get ready are pro-tooled to a dull sheen.

etc.

new order work best for me when they play with dance music, so this sounds good to me.

Get Ready = Brotherhood II
Republic = Movement II
Waiting for the Sirens Call = Technique II

Maybe the "Peter Saville Soundtrack" is "Low-Life II", on the basis of its similarities to "Elegia".

"Power, Corruption and Lies" is lonely.

I am content. (Then again how could it be otherwise?)

is billy corgan going to be on this one? No? then it will be better than get ready.

You are evil, stinky and mean.

**the electronics on movement are cold and sparking. the electronics on get ready are pro-tooled to a dull sheen. **

Yes. But such is the nature of making a record in 2003 vs 1981. I agree with the contented and fat comment.

I hope new guest 'stars' this time. They could hardly have chosen worse than the gurning fool Gilliespie and the clueless Corgan. At least Corgan didn't ruin the majestic Turn My Way with his braying.

I am a bit uncomfortable with holding subsequent albums up to the standard of Movement. For me it is their best, but really you can't compare any of them from Movement to Technique as their aesthetic was changing constantly and they were pushing forward with new technology and new ways to work. All are great, but different. In retrospect, maybe the rot set in with Republic - not wholly bad, but not the record of a pioneering band. It worries me that S. Hague is still involved.

even better title: "waiting for the call of the sirens"

What I'd love more than anything from them in 2005 would be a self-produced double album with some real risk-taking experimantation. Think Tago Mago.

Jesus H., Dave you make me swoon! If only it were true!

I would like to politely suggest that we get away from the idea of hoping for another Movement. Without Hannett around, and without them grieving the loss of their singer, there is just no WAY we are going to get another one of those. It's still my favourite album of theirs, I understand the sentiment, but really - "another Movement" just can't happen.

At this point I'd rather have a new Other Two album anyway.

The question is which album

the answer is "movement". that would fix 'em good.

They could have a crack at Tigermilk maybe?

well, Electronic Renaissance is basically Procession....

The answer is 'Substance'

then they would have to do Confusion live....have they ever done that?

er, yeh? i've got a video of it somewhere. at least one.

looks a bit like this.

Peter Hook was ugly anyway. Next.

(j/k pete, u know it's love)

the cover version of 'turn' from the new order fan 'community2' cd is excellent, btw (by someone called glast nost? beats me).

http://www.myspace.com/neworderonline

It's nice but I can't help thinking it totally reveals the "Hallmark ad" core of taht song.

i'm reviving this one 'cos it seems to be the closest we've got to a contemporary rolling new order thread ... anyway, was in borders the other day picking up some new books and spotted the words "BERNARD SUMNER" looming down at me from a high shelf in the "independent publishers" section.

turns out it's a 216pp unauthorised biography by some dude called david nolan. cost me 13 quid ... just started reading it this morning and it's quite fascinating so far. the USP is that nolan gave barney the manuscript to read and has printed his notes verbatim -- so barney crops up every few pars with a "hmm" or "no, it was more like this ..." or some other such gnomic pearl. turns out it's also reviewed in the october "word" (yes, i know; i quite like it, and it's got collins and maconie in it, so fuck off) ... as the reviewer said, the barney comments are so good you do rather wish he'd written the whole thing. but, given that was never going to happen, this is a more-than-adequate substitute.

more once i've finished it. maybe.

Interesting - strange fellow, Barney.

Anyway, they're getting back together again for an AHW memorial gig. There's a Manchester Evening News link somewhere if I can find it. I just hope it doesn't become a 'New Order final gig' thing.

bound to, though, innit?

am about halfway through the barney book: it's astonishingly sloppy in places (pars where every other word is mis-spelt) but rattles along at a fair old place and spends enough time being absolutely fascinating to make it 13 quid well spent. much of the narrative is driven by (erstwhile NO road manager) terry mason -- and some of barney's comments about his reminiscences are priceless (eg "terry? a dreamer like ian curtis? that's so wrong ... leave it in").

nolan's writing's nowhere near as good as he thinks -- there are a few awkward attempts at imposing a "style" that fall flat and are promptly forgotten about -- but his research and thirst for detail are admirable. i've had a flick through to the end and it deals with the hooky/myspace fallout -- there even seem to be some barney comments about it. not gonna spoil it for myself just yet, though :)

(and dr C: if you could post a link to the gig news, that'd be great. i'm stuck in an island farmhouse on dial-up and google is not my friend.)

Here's the article. BUT there's another flippin' Hooky announcement since then, which is below.

Manchester Evening News Article

Dianne Bourne
11/ 9/2007

NO sooner have the original band members of New Order gone their separate ways than rumours surface that the group may be reunited - for a one-off tribute to the late, great Factory Records boss Tony Wilson.

The legendary Manc band split earlier this year after bass player Peter Hook announced he was no longer working with singer Bernard Sumner and drummer Stephen Morris.

But Peter has now revealed that he has discussed the possibility of reforming the band for a one-off tribute to Tony - the man who first signed the band to his Factory label in their former incarnation, Joy Division.

Hooky told the M.E.N: "It's very typical New Order to split up and then get back together again just like that isn't it?

"The idea has been mooted by Oliver (Tony Wilson's son) - that was when it was talked about.

"And the thing is, for Tony, I'd do anything.

"So, I'm not ruling anything out - I never do really."

Since the death of `Mr Manchester' last month, there has been much talk about what will be the most fitting tribute to music mogul and broadcaster Tony, with suggestions including a huge memorial concert.

And Hooky says he doesn't think any tribute could be too big for a man so influential in his own, and Manchester's, life.

He tells me: "What I'd like is a huge statue of Tony, stood there, legs akimbo, on Princess Parkway, with `Welcome To My Manchester' on the top of his head - that's what I'd like.

"I don't personally think, for someone who was as important to me as Tony was, that any kind of tribute is too big - particularly when you think how much he gave to this city."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Peter Hook's Blog Entry

Can I just clear up this Manchester Evening News Article. In a conversation with Oliver Wilson about a tribute gig for his father, he asked me what the chances were of getting New Order to perform. I said, "Seeing as we have just split up, pretty slim.", he then said to me "If I could get the others to agree, would you do it?", I said "In honour of your father, I'd do anything."

This means I would sell the popcorn, take the tickets, sweep up after, play bass in New Order/Joy Division/Crawling Chaos.

I do wish that people would read things properly before mouthing off. I am definately going to have to learn to keep my big fat mouth shut (but I blame the bloody press!). And as Tony would say "Fuck em!"

i saw that and it's not clear to me that this is actually happening...I think he was just saying he would, not that they were.

that 'hey now, what u doin' song recently used on advert is teh suck

they should have used "everything's gone green"

what's teh suck - the ad or the song?

The song is great btw.

What's the ad for? - I've seen it, but can't remember.

finished the barney book. hmm. it goes downhill quickly. basically, the dude found out a couple of interesting facts about his childhood (his mother was seriously physically disabled with MS and his birth name really is sumner) and got some amusing anecdotes from terry mason about the JD days. once mason disappears from the scene, it becomes yet another sketchy dash through the slow decline of new order, punctuated by occasional shafts of barney wit. worth reading -- especially the first half -- but i'm revising my opinion about it being worth 13 quid ;)

still: the author rates "republic" above "get ready" and "WFTSC", so he's obviously got some sense ;)

Who Doesn't?

I sure don't.

xpost

But is that book worth £7?

yes! absolutely. buy it.

I think it's hilarious that Hooky said he'd play bass in Crawling Chaos for Tony.

I saw this Bernard book on Amazon before but something just didn't make me jump to get it for some reason. Maybe in time I will feel differently, but frankly all I've done for the last year and a half is read music books, many of them Manchester-related and after the Hannett one it was like "well...what the hell could go any further than that?" I couldn't imagine trying to follow that one with anything remotely related, at least for a good while. I'm through with music books for awhile. I'm just not sure I want to know every detail of Bernard's life, either, but I may well reconsider after a few years. I am glad you at least thought it was half good, grimly. That's at least better than I might have expected.

still: the author rates "republic" above "get ready" and "WFTSC", so he's obviously got some sense ;)

-- grimly fiendish, Wednesday, 19 September 2007 15:28 (2 days ago) Link

SINGLES ONLY:
Republic > Waiting for the Sirens' Call > Get Ready

ENTIRE ALBUMS:
Waiting for the Sirens' Call > Get Ready > Republic

Just read the Bernard Sumner book. Not a great work of art of anything but the kind of fanzine-y tone was very enjoyable. Had some stuff I didn't know (Barney is a yachtsman!) and interviews some people Who Were There which is always nice (except when he then relies on those same people for comment when They Weren't There i.e. the aforementioned Terry Mason). It'll have to do until the as yet unwritten Steven Morris autobiography comes out.

Also hadn't known bout Barney's Angels until reading this book.
http://www.barneysangels.com/
Ahhh...

And associated (and rather lovely) flickr group...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/barneysangels/

I like that flickr stuff. I can't believe I actually remember that blue picture of him in Record Mirror. That Barney's Angels site is pretty cool, too.

It'll have to do until the as yet unwritten Steven Morris autobiography comes

Ha! If there was a Stephen Morris book out, I'd grab that right away. ;)

Why the hell is there a Japanese version of "Krafty"??
http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/11/3/344326/NewOrder-Krafty%28Japanese%20Version%29.mp3

Because it's great? I was slightly suspicious of the lyrics though because they sounded a bit like made up Japanese. Apparently they were done by Masafumi Goto of Asian Kung Fu Generation so presumably they're right.

.. or they're really funny.

this makes me cry. and not in a good way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PClE6Uhml4M

:-(

because it's rubbish?

i blame even as we speak for giving them the idea, their version isn't much better

And Frente. What is it with Australian bands doing twee versions of that song?

Who cares about crappy New Order cover versions??

Sunrise, Live at the Hacienda, 1985:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVP0qpJNH-0

Or better yet, This Time of Night, live 1985:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9OCB69KwpU

Hurt, live 1984, shirtless Barney:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRu5CThEmcE

"Morning Night and Day" is waiting for a remix that will take it heavenward.

I'm still waiting on this

what happened to all these other songs from that session (don't tell me they ended up on the Bad Lieutenant thingy)

I'm not sure anyone else but me cares at this point but...
Peter Hook: New Order to release 7 songs from ‘Waiting for the Sirens’ Call’ sessions

Hope they include some of the Xenomania stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ynkz5EfIirs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5LX16zia2k

note the similarity in the intros

Time for a mashup

seems like not many people wanna talk about Lost Sirens - I know most of it is pretty average but I realize that MOR New Order has become my classic rock - could listen on repeat to middle-aged balearic stuff like "Recoil"

In at number 23.

Not bad for being hard-to-find in shops (whatever shops are left, etc)

New Order 80 min CDr 'Best Of'

Seeing New Order in Austin TX tonight (first date on a short tour) and made this 'best of' to coincide with the show. Took their most recent setlist (last month), took out some of the old Joy Division-esque stuff (and JD "covers") and replaced it with stuff I prefer-- a couple tunes from Technique, "Touched by the Hand of God," and "Love Vigilantes."

Total running time: 1:19:39

01 Elegia
02 Crystal
03 Regret
04 I'll Stay with You (lead track on Lost Sirens)
05 Fine Time
06 Age of Consent
07 Love Vigilantes
08 Here to Stay (non-album track from International)
09 Your Silent Face
10 World
11 Bizarre Love Triangle
12 True Faith
13 Touched by the Hand of God
14 The Perfect Kiss
15 Blue Monday
16 Dream Attack

I was going to put on "Low-Life," but for some reason put this one on for the first time in eons. Still sounds great!

I saw them in Denver, Colorado back in 1985. One of the best shows I have ever seen, they were at their peak. I have searched and searched for photos from that gig, I don't think anyone has ever put them up.

Setlist:

Sunrise
This Time of Night
Hurt
Thieves Like Us
5 8 6
Everything's Gone Green
The Village
Subculture
Denial
Confusion
The Perfect Kiss

Encore:
Ceremony
Blue Monday

Encore 2:
Temptation