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Music: Retro
New Order is one of the most important and influential bands in musical history and a trend-setter in music, fashion, style and culture. ‘Retro’ is a long-anticipated greatest hits collection, in a set of four CDs, compiled by outsiders.
Although a four CD set, the album does not contain anything true fans don’t already own. The selection is so elementary, you’d be better off buying old singles and compiling your own superior box set.
But for someone new to the band, this is a great collection of a great band. Divided into four parts, Retro focuses on different aspects of New Order’s sound. Part one titled ‘Pop’. a hits-filled CD, contains classic tracks including True Faith, Bizarre Love Triangle and Blue Monday. These singles were crucial in the development of the New Wave sound, and served to brand New Order’s legendary status.
The second CD, is more moody and includes some of the better known B-sides. Labelled ‘Fan’, the collection features lesser known works that only true fans would recall.
The third CD, titled ‘Club’, presents thirteen of the band’s pioneering club mixes and is worth the price of this collection alone. Shep Pettibone’s mix of Bizarre Love Triangle, John Robie’s mix of Shell Shock, the original Touched By The Hand of God, the Jam & Spoon Manuela Mix of Blue Monday and the Chemical Brothers remix of Here to Stay, are all favourites that will warrant the rewind button countless times.
The final disc ‘Live’, the ultimate in New Order’s concert sound, was created from unreleased soundboard recordings. New Order members comment throughout the performances with often sardonic lines. Beginning with Ceremony and ending with Temptation, ‘Live’ summarizes an era filled with haunting chords, sad notes and the memory of a sound once new.
Retro may not live up to expectations, but is a reminder that New Order is a band that will never be forgotten.
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