You wanted the best. You got the best. No, not Kiss.
New Order. That’s right you nostalgic hipsters, New Order has just released its new album “Waiting for the Sirens’ Call.” But unfortunately New Orleans isn’t like the Hacienda in Manchester, and it will be tough to find a place in the city that plays the record.
The band has described the release as more upbeat and dance friendly than its last album “Get Ready,” which was compared to Primal Scream’s “XTRMNTR.”
This year’s new wave comeback has again made atmospheric synthesizers a staple of pop bands. Many songs on the record sound trendy, but the listener must remember this band was at the forefront of that movement. The band isn’t doing what’s popular. The members are just being themselves. “Get Ready” had few songs ready for the club floor, but “Sirens” scatters dance songs reminiscent of Duran Duran and Depeche Mode throughout the album.
The title track is an expansive song with bass lines that are reminiscent of Joy Division roots. The band believes it is the best song it has written in years.
The first single “Krafty” has a hooky deep electronic drum and bass line.
This band is far from done writing hit pop songs, which is most evident on the inevitable radio hit “Jetstream,” featuring Ana Matronic of Scissor Sisters. Phil Cunningham said the band specifically wrote the song as a dance song since the album initially had a dominance of rock songs.
New Order’s bassist Peter Hook has been performing in several cities as a disc jockey during the various worldwide release parties. This is an emerging trend where band members spin at clubs in the same city where the band performs. When Interpol played Twiropa in late February, bassist Carlos D. also performed at Shiloh the same evening.
Many new bands similar to Bloc Party and The Bravery are directly influenced by New Order’s music. In this situation, one might expect the pop idols to blow these new-comers out of the water.
This, however, is not the case. The album would be superior if it was a new band, but you expect more from the group. Pick up the album for your next dance party, but it will never replace your copy of “Power, Corruption & Lies.”
Benjamin Gordon can be reached at [email protected].
