I'm starting a new thread that has nothing to do with shipping delays. This is about the box itself (once you've received your copy).

The box is very heavy card, reminiscent of Still. The front is debossed with Music Complete, and the back is debossed with New Order.

Lift the lid to find the album on top. I'm in the States, but the box contains EU pressings. It gave me a real nerd thrill to see a New Order album with a proper Mute Records "STUMM" catalog number, having grown up a huge fan of Mute's catalog.

There are two 4" stickers: a black and white one of the Mute logo (overhead view of a walking figure), and one of the Music Complete album cover with blue in the lower left corner (the CD format). There's also a business-sized card with the download instructions. The downloads come as both MP3 and FLACs.

There's a 12" divider card with Music Complete: New Order printed in the center.

Then there are six 12" singles. The spines all say Music Complete: Extended Mixes, and are labeled as BXSTUMM390 AB, CD, EF, GH, IJ, and K. The rear of each lists the tracks (Restless Extended Mix, Singularity Extended Mix).

The sleeves are printed with a glossy finish on the inside, and a rougher, textured finish (similar to Movement) on the outside. The inner sleeves are black paper lined with plastic.

Restless/Singularity = bright yellow translucent vinyl
Plastic/Tutti Frutti = deep green translucent vinyl (same as the UK press of the Restless 12")
People On The High Line/Stray Dog = orangish-pink translucent vinyl
Academic/Nothing But A Fool = clear vinyl
Unlearn This Hatred/The Game = deep blue translucent vinyl
Superheated = black vinyl

The labels all say to play at 33rpm, but the records actually play at 45.

Saville has described the artwork for this album as "techno Tudor", with the heavy black lines being based on Tudor designs. The etchings on side 12 carry over the Tudor aesthetic with pine cones, acorns, flowers, and leaves rendered in clean lines - the sort of things that would be woven into tapestries. I think the design of this album is perfect, in that, it doesn't look like anything else at the moment. Saville surprised us, and it works as a unified whole.

The extended mixes are amazing. They aren't remixed - there's nothing added that doesn't appear in the album versions. My favorites are Plastic, People On The High Line, and Academic. Academic sounds even more like Paradise with the sequencer pushed up louder in the mix. For me personally, People On The High Line and Academic have attained "classic New Order" status. I'd put them up against anything recorded during their imperial phase, and I have to say overall I find myself ranking Music Complete as the second best album they've ever made (behind Technique).

In 2015, did any New Order fan expect to find themselves saying "I couldn't be happier"? The box does nothing but add to an already brilliant album.

Edited by user 04 November 2015 11:03:07(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Yeah i was thinking similar

Didn't know stickers were included.
Didn't know what the etchings were on the final disc.
Didn't know what was on each disc.
Didn't have such a description of the individual sleeves.
Didn't know the paper inners were black plastic lined.
Etc.

And I had only seen one photo of the box until yesterday when I saw a second which didn't really add anything.

All I need now are to hear the tracks before the box arrives and there will be no need to open it.

Thank you for posting all this information, Mr. Music Complete. It's much appreciated.
Somehow, your post has increased my excitement and anticipation for the Box Set tenfold. Can't wait!

Edited by user 04 November 2015 13:18:46(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Thanks from me too.

Can't wait for my set now... REALLY wanna hear those extended mixes though :)

Apologies for the botched quote above.

The final sentence is mine but my browser will not allow me to save the corrective edit.

Well they're trying to reward those who paid a small fortune for the box set; I can understand that. It's a bit of a collectors item, and we already have the standard album available for not-much-money on download and CD. I don't think they will lose much money this way as the extended tracks are only aimed at a small target audience of hardcore fans, I suspect.

I'd like these tracks digitally too, but you know good things come to those who wait. Eventually they will pop up somewhere.

She just said there are “no plans”, it doesn’t mean it’s never gonna happen. I did wonder if she would say anything hopeful, as they have to maximise sales of the box set. I’m guessing that eventually there will be something to be gained from sales in other media. I’m not waiting for something cheaper, I could just never go back to vinyl, and space is a consideration. I have two boxes of ancient vinyl including Factory 12”s and LPs, never played now as no turntable, that I wouldn’t be parted from and that’s enough. Been there done that got the T shirt. I’m resigned to wait for however long. (Just like I’m still waiting to get the whole video of Maida Vale concert - that may never happen!)

yeah, I got a similar reply from Cathie. And even though it doesn't state categorically that there are no plans to release them, I still find it extremely disappointing because I too want to reward my favourite band for recording one of their best ever albums with cold hard cash. I've already bought the UK and the NZ pressings of the cd, I don't mind flinging more wads of cash in their direction. However, the shipping costs of getting the box set down here are just astronomical, plus I am no fan of vinyl, its horrible, and I live in the 21st century. I have a large collection I built up in the 80s and 90s, but will never listen to them again for I have no turntable, and have them all digitally in lovely apple lossless. It would have been nice for some consideration being given to the world wide fan base, who are willing to pay for digital files, who cannot afford the shipping costs and don't particular want to resort to pirated copies... :)

According to UPS, my box will not arrive until tomorrow... just so I understand, I've got to open the darn thing in order to access the code to download the extended versions? The New Order Store doesn't automatically send me a link to download the files?

-Mike

I am located in Australia and ordered each boxset from the UK & USA websites, got the boxset from USA 3 days ago.....funny thing, the boxset is actually Made in EU....so these boxsets must have travelled from Europe to America then to Oceania, lots of globetrotting!!...I was hoping there'll be different EU & USA pressings as with the case with MC & Restless vinyls but oh well, not the case

Mine wasnt signed (dang) but the boxset looks good especially that salmon-red vinyl....my only gripe is the box itself - it was stapled (though meticulously done with even spacing) together rather than glued (like the Bad Lieutenant boxset which was very nicely done) I do share 50poundnote's delight & enthusiasm for the boxset.

Those extended versions are really good though - def enjoyed them. After listening to the standard MC for about 50+ times since its release, I find the extended mixes sound more complete & spread-out much better ( the standard ones now sound a bit edited, rushed, densed/compact ) and not sure if there was something with my ears but I thought Barney's vocals (and even Brandon's) sounded different ...perhaps, vocals were mixed differently or even better, different vocal takes ???

Edited by user 05 November 2015 16:06:20(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

wow....lucky chap, CONGRATS nice signatures too with different colours, in line with the spirit of the packaging

Congrats, Mike! 😎