Sugarcane is just shameless pop with catchy hooks, just like Bizarre Love Triangle or World in Motion, or Such a Good Thing... I mean if you like those tunes, you get it, if not, then yeah...

Well I for one would welcome a production collaboration (if it has to be someone) with Stuart Price. He has delivered the best PSB album in living memory with their new release 'Electric' and his collaboration on rebuilding the new live versions of 586 etc were fantastic.





I've been thinking about this and I'd be keen to debate what impact producer-choice has made on NO's recordings / creativity over the years. I believe that their best work was always self-produced; i.e. PC&L thru Technique and singles in between, i.e after they'd 'learned the ropes' from Martin Hannett.

I can understand the weight off the recording shoulders, ability to manage personalities, pressure from labels, etc that comes with bringing in a producer, but - apart from some particular highlights - has the band's output been as cutting edge / independent / creative over the past 4 albums (Republic through Lost Sirens)?

Has the rock element and structured songwriting become too MOR? If so how much are the producers to blame? Have the production choices (Gabriel, Hague, Osborne, Spencer, Leckie, Street, Price, Chems) been positive or negative?

Perhaps this suggested EP by EP path could underpin a return to form... The quite-remarkable return to touring by the 5-piece band, Hooky out there hell-bent on enjoying himself, clearing of the decks with the release of Lost Sirens and selected live performances; I just get a sense that things are settling down, the pressure has lessened and that we might see something special in the not too distant future. Lets hope.

D

Yes. I agree. This is the third time a fellow has expressed this and every time I hasten to endorse it. Were I to choose between a 'fucking great' release and a 'horse-shitty' one, I would most definitely plump for the former.

It's New Order!! Of course it's going to be good. Even if it isn't their best work, it will still be better than 99.9 % of music released today. I can't wait for new music from New Order!!!

I could be wrong but I doubt that we will hear anything this year from New Order, with Bernards leg injury it can take couple of months to recover or to heal if there is an operation or a cast placed on his legs, I had a double sprained ankle last year and it took me 4 months to heal and properly walk, a fracture is much serious than what I had,again I could be wrong but lets see what happens and a speedy recovery for him.

2015, anyone?

I would not mind getting a 4 song EP by the end of this year and a full album of 10 to 11 songs next year, since they got about 15 songs and ideas to work with. That would be GREAT.

I think it is possible that they will release an EP in 2014. I would imagine they will take August and maybe September off for personal time/holidays and then get back to work on new music around October.

They have sketches for 15-16 songs done, so I could see them turning four of those into finished tunes by early 2014. I cannot give out details, but I do know for fact that they may have a bit more done than they have let on.

The mood in the band is very positive at the moment, so I think they will do something. If that little electronic piece that Steve did that was played at Jodrell Bank before the encore is any indication, the music will be electronic, groovy, and dark.

I would imagine the writing core of the new stuff will be Bernard/Steve/Gillian, and then Tom and Phil will put their guitar and bass on top of that. Phil's a great guitarist, and Tom can do a lot on the bass (he's a pretty good pianist as well) and they all seem excited to make new music. I think we will see some new tunes by them out in 2014.

That music is confirmed as being a creation of Steve's? Only when i got back from the Jodrell gig and looked up the footage on YouTube it struck me as quite possibly something Steve had knocked up.Groovy and yeah, kind of dark in places in a very cool way.Called to mind some of the sounds on stuff like Ultraviolence and Murder 83-84 era NO

For God's sake any album they're about to release is going to be great!!!
Get well soon, Mr.Sumner!!!