MTO is the second track from New Order's nineteenth single, Run 2.

Mike "Hitman" Wilson handled the remixing of the track, as there is no "New Order" version out there, this will be treat as the B-Side version.

What do you think about the track both in general and in comparison to the rest of the band's discography, and how would you rate it out of 10 (decimals allowed)?

Listen Here:

https://youtu.be/cXrCNBJKkPI?si=Q3XfpvX67SO4GOgT

Rating Scale:

1 - 4: Not Good, would skip.

5: Okay, but I would have to be in a specific mood to listen to it.

6: Slightly better than average, but I wouldn't choose to listen to it.

7: It's a good song, I can enjoy it quite a bit

8 - 9: It's a really enjoyable song, I rank it pretty high overall.

10: Masterpiece and other associated terms.

Song Ratings:

Technique (Overall Average Score: 7.86)

Fine Time - 5.96

All the Way - 7.57

Love Less - 8.22

Round & Round - 8.72

Guilty Partner - 6.58

Run - 8.18

Mr Disco - 8.79

Vanishing Point - 9.18

Dream Attack - 7.56

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

1988 - 1990 B-Sides and Singles

Don't Do It - 8.25

Round & Round 7" Mix - 7.77

Round & Round 12" Mix - 8.84

Best & Marsh - 8.59

Vanishing Point (Instrumental Making Out Mix) - 7.4

MTO -

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

Previous Ratings:

Movement (Overall Average Score: 7.69/10)

Dreams Never End - 9.08

Truth - 7.25

Senses - 7.5

Chosen Time - 7.85

ICB - 7.56

The Him - 6.67

Doubts Even Here - 8.42

Denial - 7.2

1981 - 1982 B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 9.12/10)

Ceremony (Version 1) - 9.63

In A Lonely Place - 8.62

Ceremony (Version 2) - 9.76

Procession - 9.18

Everything's Gone Green - 9.31

Cries and Whispers - 9.41

Mesh - 7.98

Temptation - 9.95

Hurt - 8.26

Power, Corruption and Lies (Overall Average Score: 8.77)

Age of Consent - 9.74

We All Stand - 6.81

The Village - 9.52

586 - 8.35

Your Silent Face - 9.7

Ultraviolence - 8.41

Ecstacy - 8.06

Leave Me Alone - 9.62

1983 - 1984 B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 8.5)

Blue Monday - 9.86

The Beach - 7.31

Confusion - 7.78

Thieves Like Us - 9.47

Lonesome Tonight - 9.47

Murder - 7.11

Low-Life (Overall Average Score: 8.67)

Love Vigilantes - 9.25

The Perfect Kiss - 9.31

This Time of Night - 8.6

Sunrise - 8.41

Elegia - 8.89

Sooner Than You Think - 8.47

Sub-Culture - 8.4

Face Up - 8.08

1985 - 1986 Singles and B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 7.93)

The Perfect Kiss 12" Version - 9.88

Sub-Culture 12" Version - 6.5

Shellshock - 7.41

Brotherhood (Overall Average Score: 8.67)

Paradise - 8.5

Weirdo - 8.46

As It Is When It Was - 8.69

Broken Promise - 8.0

Way of Life - 9.08

Bizarre Love Triangle - 9.17

All Day Long - 9.34

Angel Dust - 8.73

Every Little Counts - 8.08

1986 - 1987 B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 8.57)

State of the Nation - 6.61

True Faith - 9.34

1963 - 9.49

Touched by the Hand of God - 8.87

Technique (Overall Average Score: 7.86)

Fine Time - 5.96

All the Way - 7.57

Love Less - 8.22

Round & Round - 8.72

Guilty Partner - 6.58

Run - 8.18

Mr Disco - 8.79

Vanishing Point - 9.18

Dream Attack - 7.56

1988 - 1990 B-Sides and Singles

Don't Do It - 8.25

Round & Round 7" Mix - 7.77

Round & Round 12" Mix - 8.84

Best & Marsh - 8.59

Vanishing Point (Instrumental Making Out Mix) - 7.4

Watching the game, I heard the beat and thought, " No fucking way!" That's a first.

Vanishing Point (Instrumental Making Out Mix) is the second track from the CD single of New Order's eighteenth single, Round & Round.

What do you think about the track both in general and in comparison to the rest of the band's discography, and how would you rate it out of 10 (decimals allowed)?

Listen Here:

https://youtu.be/-03mt3RN2qs?si=58_Zw843fb5UApHU

Rating Scale:

1 - 4: Not Good, would skip.

5: Okay, but I would have to be in a specific mood to listen to it.

6: Slightly better than average, but I wouldn't choose to listen to it.

7: It's a good song, I can enjoy it quite a bit

8 - 9: It's a really enjoyable song, I rank it pretty high overall.

10: Masterpiece and other associated terms.

Song Ratings:

Technique (Overall Average Score: 7.86)

Fine Time - 5.96

All the Way - 7.57

Love Less - 8.22

Round & Round - 8.72

Guilty Partner - 6.58

Run - 8.18

Mr Disco - 8.79

Vanishing Point - 9.18

Dream Attack - 7.56

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

1988 - 1990 B-Sides and Singles

Don't Do It - 8.25

Round & Round 7" Mix - 7.77

Round & Round 12" Mix - 8.84

Best & Marsh - 8.59

Vanishing Point (Instrumental Making Out Mix) -

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

Previous Ratings:

Movement (Overall Average Score: 7.69/10)

Dreams Never End - 9.08

Truth - 7.25

Senses - 7.5

Chosen Time - 7.85

ICB - 7.56

The Him - 6.67

Doubts Even Here - 8.42

Denial - 7.2

1981 - 1982 B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 9.12/10)

Ceremony (Version 1) - 9.63

In A Lonely Place - 8.62

Ceremony (Version 2) - 9.76

Procession - 9.18

Everything's Gone Green - 9.31

Cries and Whispers - 9.41

Mesh - 7.98

Temptation - 9.95

Hurt - 8.26

Power, Corruption and Lies (Overall Average Score: 8.77)

Age of Consent - 9.74

We All Stand - 6.81

The Village - 9.52

586 - 8.35

Your Silent Face - 9.7

Ultraviolence - 8.41

Ecstacy - 8.06

Leave Me Alone - 9.62

1983 - 1984 B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 8.5)

Blue Monday - 9.86

The Beach - 7.31

Confusion - 7.78

Thieves Like Us - 9.47

Lonesome Tonight - 9.47

Murder - 7.11

Low-Life (Overall Average Score: 8.67)

Love Vigilantes - 9.25

The Perfect Kiss - 9.31

This Time of Night - 8.6

Sunrise - 8.41

Elegia - 8.89

Sooner Than You Think - 8.47

Sub-Culture - 8.4

Face Up - 8.08

1985 - 1986 Singles and B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 7.93)

The Perfect Kiss 12" Version - 9.88

Sub-Culture 12" Version - 6.5

Shellshock - 7.41

Brotherhood (Overall Average Score: 8.67)

Paradise - 8.5

Weirdo - 8.46

As It Is When It Was - 8.69

Broken Promise - 8.0

Way of Life - 9.08

Bizarre Love Triangle - 9.17

All Day Long - 9.34

Angel Dust - 8.73

Every Little Counts - 8.08

1986 - 1987 B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 8.57)

State of the Nation - 6.61

True Faith - 9.34

1963 - 9.49

Touched by the Hand of God - 8.87

Technique (Overall Average Score: 7.86)

Fine Time - 5.96

All the Way - 7.57

Love Less - 8.22

Round & Round - 8.72

Guilty Partner - 6.58

Run - 8.18

Mr Disco - 8.79

Vanishing Point - 9.18

Dream Attack - 7.56

1988 - 1990 B-Sides and Singles

Don't Do It - 8.25

Round & Round 7" Mix - 7.77

Round & Round 12" Mix - 8.84

Best & Marsh - 8.59

I've just read in James Nice's "Shadowplayers" that "Movement" got a pretty harsh review in "Melody Maker". The press was quite divided on the album ("NME" and "Sounds" hated it, "Smash Hits" and "Record Mirror" were impressed). Can anyone happen to have scans of this particular article from "MM"?

Best & Marsh is the second track on the 7" and 12" version of New Order's eighteenth single and the fourth track on the CD single of, Round & Round.

What do you think about the track both in general and in comparison to the rest of the band's discography, and how would you rate it out of 10 (decimals allowed)?

Listen Here:

https://youtu.be/qW2aJa6rQtY?si=QSvfQ9ljRSIoVk--

Rating Scale:

1 - 4: Not Good, would skip.

5: Okay, but I would have to be in a specific mood to listen to it.

6: Slightly better than average, but I wouldn't choose to listen to it.

7: It's a good song, I can enjoy it quite a bit

8 - 9: It's a really enjoyable song, I rank it pretty high overall.

10: Masterpiece and other associated terms.

Song Ratings:

Technique (Overall Average Score: 7.86)

Fine Time - 5.96

All the Way - 7.57

Love Less - 8.22

Round & Round - 8.72

Guilty Partner - 6.58

Run - 8.18

Mr Disco - 8.79

Vanishing Point - 9.18

Dream Attack - 7.56

1988 - 1990 B-Sides and Singles

Don't Do It - 8.25

Round & Round 7" Mix - 7.77

Round & Round 12" Mix - 8.84

Best & Marsh -

Previous Ratings:

Movement (Overall Average Score: 7.69/10)

Dreams Never End - 9.08

Truth - 7.25

Senses - 7.5

Chosen Time - 7.85

ICB - 7.56

The Him - 6.67

Doubts Even Here - 8.42

Denial - 7.2

1981 - 1982 B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 9.12/10)

Ceremony (Version 1) - 9.63

In A Lonely Place - 8.62

Ceremony (Version 2) - 9.76

Procession - 9.18

Everything's Gone Green - 9.31

Cries and Whispers - 9.41

Mesh - 7.98

Temptation - 9.95

Hurt - 8.26

Power, Corruption and Lies (Overall Average Score: 8.77)

Age of Consent - 9.74

We All Stand - 6.81

The Village - 9.52

586 - 8.35

Your Silent Face - 9.7

Ultraviolence - 8.41

Ecstacy - 8.06

Leave Me Alone - 9.62

1983 - 1984 B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 8.5)

Blue Monday - 9.86

The Beach - 7.31

Confusion - 7.78

Thieves Like Us - 9.47

Lonesome Tonight - 9.47

Murder - 7.11

Low-Life (Overall Average Score: 8.67)

Love Vigilantes - 9.25

The Perfect Kiss - 9.31

This Time of Night - 8.6

Sunrise - 8.41

Elegia - 8.89

Sooner Than You Think - 8.47

Sub-Culture - 8.4

Face Up - 8.08

1985 - 1986 Singles and B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 7.93)

The Perfect Kiss 12" Version - 9.88

Sub-Culture 12" Version - 6.5

Shellshock - 7.41

Brotherhood (Overall Average Score: 8.67)

Paradise - 8.5

Weirdo - 8.46

As It Is When It Was - 8.69

Broken Promise - 8.0

Way of Life - 9.08

Bizarre Love Triangle - 9.17

All Day Long - 9.34

Angel Dust - 8.73

Every Little Counts - 8.08

1986 - 1987 B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 8.57)

State of the Nation - 6.61

True Faith - 9.34

1963 - 9.49

Touched by the Hand of God - 8.87

Technique (Overall Average Score: 7.86)

Fine Time - 5.96

All the Way - 7.57

Love Less - 8.22

Round & Round - 8.72

Guilty Partner - 6.58

Run - 8.18

Mr Disco - 8.79

Vanishing Point - 9.18

Dream Attack - 7.56

1988 - 1990 B-Sides and Singles

Don't Do It - 8.25

Round & Round 7" Mix - 7.77

Round & Round 12" Mix - 8.84

run                                        4:26  v, cd, cs, dt
run 2 (7")                                 3:35  v, cs, ld
run 2 (7" original mix)                    3:40  cs
run 2 (best of)                            4:26  v, cd, cs
run 2 (extended)                           5:22  v, cs
run 2 (instrumental)                       4:27  cs
run 2 (unedited old arrangement)           4:12  cs

there was a promo cassette that was out there..
all this is from the recycle project, and blog
(on the wayback machine):

the other two videos are also up:

unedited : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E4PHWwJnO8

inst: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yowN3a_ufU

For a record that never got released in America, the US record company sure got a lot of internal mileage from this.

New Order's "Run 2" was the final single released from their 1989 bestseller Technique. UK label Factory released 20,000 copies of the 12" and only pressed up 500 copies on 7", for promotion only. "Run" minus the "2" appendage is the original version as it appears on Technique; American producer Scott Litt (known for his longtime association with R.E.M.) remixed and restructured it, hence "Run 2".

Then John Denver got involved.

Denver (or his lawyers) thought that "Run 2" ripped off "Leaving On A Jet Plane" and so sued the band. The case was settled out of court, and since then every New Order release since then that contains "Run" (or "Run 2") credits the song to the band and John Denver / his publishing company. For the official released versions I strongly suggest to wait for our friends over at the Recycle blog to get around to it in their release schedule (I've heard the preliminary mastering and folks, it's a must-grab once they post it, by far the best transfer I've ever heard from this notoriously noisy and poor pressing). The 12" version released in 2008 as part of the Technique deluxe edition is poorly mastered, at best.

But back to the reason you came.

I have NO idea if this record ever saw a release scheduled in the USA. American label Qwest/Warner Bros. ultimately never did release the single, to this day the only official avenue Stateside for the 7" mix is via the A Collection DVD (a Rhino DVD collecting the band's videos, it used the 7" "Run 2" mix). However, in-house listening pre-mix and mix candidate copies of all the tracks on the eventual FAC 273 12" ("Run 2", "Run 2 extended version", "MTO", "MTO minus mix") were circulating on cassette in California, the Warner Bros. offices, in summer 1989.

The majority of these mixes have not seen the light of day until now. 20 years later, I think it's safe to assume that the label won't give two ****s about these being out. I have to thank the unnamed for these fantastic transfers, they are really interesting to listen to, they sound great, and while I think the best mixes were used on the release there are some mixes from the June cassette that are really good as well.

Please note that the overloaded bass distortion in parts of track 6 was there on the original transfer as well - which is a shame because if not for that, it would top the vinyl version in terms of less sibilance/noise.

These were all taken from original WB cassettes, which themselves were dubbed from either DAT or reel sources. I've cleaned them up as best I could and for the most part what you have here is release-quality, no 3rd-gen muffled recordings these are.

NeworderRun2MTO
Warner Bros. in-house cassettes

CASSETTE ONE
June 26 1989 "FROM DAT SOURCE"

01 Run 2 (7" edited master) 3:38
02 Run 2 (unedited old arrangement) 4:12
03 Run 2 (instrumental) 4:27

Okay, I won't lie, I don't like Bernard's vocals on Procession. I listened to Stephen singing Procession in the Hurrah 1980 performance, and I genuinely prefer his voice for Procession specifically. I don't know; I feel like he could have done a good job with it. It would have been cool to have Stephen sing a few New Order songs as Peter did.

That's all.

Round & Round is the first track from New Order's eighteenth single, Round & Round.

This is the 12" Mix, and differs significantly from the album mix.

What do you think about the track both in general and in comparison to the rest of the band's discography, and how would you rate it out of 10 (decimals allowed)?

Listen Here:

https://youtu.be/-YYhzIttpsI?si=ZKjStAJIlALTqhJD

Rating Scale:

1 - 4: Not Good, would skip.

5: Okay, but I would have to be in a specific mood to listen to it.

6: Slightly better than average, but I wouldn't choose to listen to it.

7: It's a good song, I can enjoy it quite a bit

8 - 9: It's a really enjoyable song, I rank it pretty high overall.

10: Masterpiece and other associated terms.

Song Ratings:

Technique (Overall Average Score: 7.86)

Fine Time - 5.96

All the Way - 7.57

Love Less - 8.22

Round & Round - 8.72

Guilty Partner - 6.58

Run - 8.18

Mr Disco - 8.79

Vanishing Point - 9.18

Dream Attack - 7.56

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

1988 - 1990 B-Sides and Singles

Don't Do It - 8.25

Round & Round 7" Mix - 7.77

Round & Round 12" Mix -

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

Previous Ratings:

Movement (Overall Average Score: 7.69/10)

Dreams Never End - 9.08

Truth - 7.25

Senses - 7.5

Chosen Time - 7.85

ICB - 7.56

The Him - 6.67

Doubts Even Here - 8.42

Denial - 7.2

1981 - 1982 B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 9.12/10)

Ceremony (Version 1) - 9.63

In A Lonely Place - 8.62

Ceremony (Version 2) - 9.76

Procession - 9.18

Everything's Gone Green - 9.31

Cries and Whispers - 9.41

Mesh - 7.98

Temptation - 9.95

Hurt - 8.26

Power, Corruption and Lies (Overall Average Score: 8.77)

Age of Consent - 9.74

We All Stand - 6.81

The Village - 9.52

586 - 8.35

Your Silent Face - 9.7

Ultraviolence - 8.41

Ecstacy - 8.06

Leave Me Alone - 9.62

1983 - 1984 B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 8.5)

Blue Monday - 9.86

The Beach - 7.31

Confusion - 7.78

Thieves Like Us - 9.47

Lonesome Tonight - 9.47

Murder - 7.11

Low-Life (Overall Average Score: 8.67)

Love Vigilantes - 9.25

The Perfect Kiss - 9.31

This Time of Night - 8.6

Sunrise - 8.41

Elegia - 8.89

Sooner Than You Think - 8.47

Sub-Culture - 8.4

Face Up - 8.08

1985 - 1986 Singles and B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 7.93)

The Perfect Kiss 12" Version - 9.88

Sub-Culture 12" Version - 6.5

Shellshock - 7.41

Brotherhood (Overall Average Score: 8.67)

Paradise - 8.5

Weirdo - 8.46

As It Is When It Was - 8.69

Broken Promise - 8.0

Way of Life - 9.08

Bizarre Love Triangle - 9.17

All Day Long - 9.34

Angel Dust - 8.73

Every Little Counts - 8.08

1986 - 1987 B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 8.57)

State of the Nation - 6.61

True Faith - 9.34

1963 - 9.49

Touched by the Hand of God - 8.87

Technique (Overall Average Score: 7.86)

Fine Time - 5.96

All the Way - 7.57

Love Less - 8.22

Round & Round - 8.72

Guilty Partner - 6.58

Run - 8.18

Mr Disco - 8.79

Vanishing Point - 9.18

Dream Attack - 7.56

1988 - 1990 B-Sides and Singles

Don't Do It - 8.25

Round & Round 7" Mix - 7.77

Round & Round is the first track from New Order's eighteenth single, Round & Round.

This is the 7" Mix which was co-produced by Stephen Hague with the band, and differs significantly from the album mix.

What do you think about the track both in general and in comparison to the rest of the band's discography, and how would you rate it out of 10 (decimals allowed)?

Listen Here:

https://youtu.be/D1fj4mp14L8?si=qhQTMEbIGWwe__K8

Rating Scale:

1 - 4: Not Good, would skip.

5: Okay, but I would have to be in a specific mood to listen to it.

6: Slightly better than average, but I wouldn't choose to listen to it.

7: It's a good song, I can enjoy it quite a bit

8 - 9: It's a really enjoyable song, I rank it pretty high overall.

10: Masterpiece and other associated terms.

Song Ratings:

Technique (Overall Average Score: 7.86)

Fine Time - 5.96

All the Way - 7.57

Love Less - 8.22

Round & Round - 8.72

Guilty Partner - 6.58

Run - 8.18

Mr Disco - 8.79

Vanishing Point - 9.18

Dream Attack - 7.56

1988 - 1990 B-Sides and Singles

Don't Do It - 8.25

Round & Round 7" Mix -

Previous Ratings:

Movement (Overall Average Score: 7.69/10)

Dreams Never End - 9.08

Truth - 7.25

Senses - 7.5

Chosen Time - 7.85

ICB - 7.56

The Him - 6.67

Doubts Even Here - 8.42

Denial - 7.2

1981 - 1982 B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 9.12/10)

Ceremony (Version 1) - 9.63

In A Lonely Place - 8.62

Ceremony (Version 2) - 9.76

Procession - 9.18

Everything's Gone Green - 9.31

Cries and Whispers - 9.41

Mesh - 7.98

Temptation - 9.95

Hurt - 8.26

Power, Corruption and Lies (Overall Average Score: 8.77)

Age of Consent - 9.74

We All Stand - 6.81

The Village - 9.52

586 - 8.35

Your Silent Face - 9.7

Ultraviolence - 8.41

Ecstacy - 8.06

Leave Me Alone - 9.62

1983 - 1984 B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 8.5)

Blue Monday - 9.86

The Beach - 7.31

Confusion - 7.78

Thieves Like Us - 9.47

Lonesome Tonight - 9.47

Murder - 7.11

Low-Life (Overall Average Score: 8.67)

Love Vigilantes - 9.25

The Perfect Kiss - 9.31

This Time of Night - 8.6

Sunrise - 8.41

Elegia - 8.89

Sooner Than You Think - 8.47

Sub-Culture - 8.4

Face Up - 8.08

1985 - 1986 Singles and B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 7.93)

The Perfect Kiss 12" Version - 9.88

Sub-Culture 12" Version - 6.5

Shellshock - 7.41

Brotherhood (Overall Average Score: 8.67)

Paradise - 8.5

Weirdo - 8.46

As It Is When It Was - 8.69

Broken Promise - 8.0

Way of Life - 9.08

Bizarre Love Triangle - 9.17

All Day Long - 9.34

Angel Dust - 8.73

Every Little Counts - 8.08

1986 - 1987 B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 8.57)

State of the Nation - 6.61

True Faith - 9.34

1963 - 9.49

Touched by the Hand of God - 8.87

Technique (Overall Average Score: 7.86)

Fine Time - 5.96

All the Way - 7.57

Love Less - 8.22

Round & Round - 8.72

Guilty Partner - 6.58

Run - 8.18

Mr Disco - 8.79

Vanishing Point - 9.18

Dream Attack - 7.56

1988 - 1990 B-Sides and Singles

Don't Do It - 8.25

I first properly discovered New Order in a slightly backwards way.

In 2012 I went to see them at Festival Hall in Melbourne with my much older boyfriend at the time, who was a huge fan. I, on the other hand, barely knew who they were 😅 By the end of the gig I was completely converted, and they have been one of my favourite bands ever since.

The song that stood out to me most that night was 'Crystal'. I became enamoured with it afterwards, including the brilliant music video, and even now there is something about this track that feels remarkably timeless.

Released in 2001 as the first single from Get Ready, 'Crystal' marked New Order’s return with their first original single since 1993. The album version stretches out for nearly seven minutes, with an extended introduction and coda, while the single version condenses all of that energy into a much tighter four-and-a-bit minutes.

The combination of guitar, electronics and Peter Hook’s wonderfully melodic bass is quintessential New Order, but I especially like the backing vocals from Dawn Zee. The call-and-response against Bernard Sumner gives the verses character as the track moves between its cooler, restrained sections and huge surging chorus.

We nearly didn’t get a New Order version at all. Sumner had originally given the song away and it was recorded by Corvin Dalek, before Pete Tong heard it and was so enthusiastic about its potential that Sumner reconsidered. A fairly fortunate intervention, considering it became one of the band’s biggest songs of that era.

Then there is that music video.

Rather than showing New Order performing, Johan Renck’s video features a fictional young band miming the song under the name The Killers. Brandon Flowers would subsequently take the name for his own band after seeing the video, which has to be one of the better pieces of music video trivia. The connection eventually came full circle too, with Flowers and Sumner performing together on several occasions.

I only just discovered that 'Crystal' also has an entirely different official video made for the Special Circumstances mix, consisting of a nighttime motorcycle ride filmed using tiny cameras mounted in boots.

Musically, 'Crystal' is such a satisfying meeting point between New Order’s two sides. It has the melancholy and slightly detached quality they do so well, but with an enormous driving rhythm that keeps propelling everything forward. The guitars have far more weight than people sometimes associate with New Order, while the synths and Hook’s bass stop it ever becoming conventional guitar rock.

Billy Corgan even joined New Order as a live guitarist during their 2001 performances around the Get Ready period, which is unsurprising given how guitar-heavy this particular era of the band could be.

More than twenty years later, 'Crystal' barely seems to have aged. Maybe part of that is because New Order have always existed in that strange space between post-punk, rock, synth-pop and dance music where they never quite belong to a single period anyway.

Whatever the reason, I can still understand exactly why this was the song that caught my attention at Festival Hall when I walked in knowing almost nothing about them and walked out a fan 🎸🎹

New Order means a lot to me. Here's a cover I made celebrating them and one of my favourite albums of all time.

Don't Do It is the second track from New Order's seventeenth single, Fine Time.

What do you think about the track both in general and in comparison to the rest of the band's discography, and how would you rate it out of 10 (decimals allowed)?

Listen Here:

https://youtu.be/35DyIbCEghw?si=g_p2B0AGV61As5ox

Rating Scale:

1 - 4: Not Good, would skip.

5: Okay, but I would have to be in a specific mood to listen to it.

6: Slightly better than average, but I wouldn't choose to listen to it.

7: It's a good song, I can enjoy it quite a bit

8 - 9: It's a really enjoyable song, I rank it pretty high overall.

10: Masterpiece and other associated terms.

Song Ratings:

Technique (Overall Average Score: 7.86)

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

Fine Time - 5.96

All the Way - 7.57

Love Less - 8.22

Round & Round - 8.72

Guilty Partner - 6.58

Run - 8.18

Mr Disco - 8.79

Vanishing Point - 9.18

Dream Attack - 7.56

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

1988 - 1990 B-Sides and Singles

Don't Do It -

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

Previous Ratings:

Movement (Overall Average Score: 7.69/10)

Dreams Never End - 9.08

Truth - 7.25

Senses - 7.5

Chosen Time - 7.85

ICB - 7.56

The Him - 6.67

Doubts Even Here - 8.42

Denial - 7.2

1981 - 1982 B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 9.12/10)

Ceremony (Version 1) - 9.63

In A Lonely Place - 8.62

Ceremony (Version 2) - 9.76

Procession - 9.18

Everything's Gone Green - 9.31

Cries and Whispers - 9.41

Mesh - 7.98

Temptation - 9.95

Hurt - 8.26

Power, Corruption and Lies (Overall Average Score: 8.77)

Age of Consent - 9.74

We All Stand - 6.81

The Village - 9.52

586 - 8.35

Your Silent Face - 9.7

Ultraviolence - 8.41

Ecstacy - 8.06

Leave Me Alone - 9.62

1983 - 1984 B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 8.5)

Blue Monday - 9.86

The Beach - 7.31

Confusion - 7.78

Thieves Like Us - 9.47

Lonesome Tonight - 9.47

Murder - 7.11

Low-Life (Overall Average Score: 8.67)

Love Vigilantes - 9.25

The Perfect Kiss - 9.31

This Time of Night - 8.6

Sunrise - 8.41

Elegia - 8.89

Sooner Than You Think - 8.47

Sub-Culture - 8.4

Face Up - 8.08

1985 - 1986 Singles and B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 7.93)

The Perfect Kiss 12" Version - 9.88

Sub-Culture 12" Version - 6.5

Shellshock - 7.41

Brotherhood (Overall Average Score: 8.67)

Paradise - 8.5

Weirdo - 8.46

As It Is When It Was - 8.69

Broken Promise - 8.0

Way of Life - 9.08

Bizarre Love Triangle - 9.17

All Day Long - 9.34

Angel Dust - 8.73

Every Little Counts - 8.08

1986 - 1987 B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 8.57)

State of the Nation - 6.61

True Faith - 9.34

1963 - 9.49

Touched by the Hand of God - 8.87

Technique (Overall Average Score: 7.86)

Fine Time - 5.96

All the Way - 7.57

Love Less - 8.22

Round & Round - 8.72

Guilty Partner - 6.58

Run - 8.18

Mr Disco - 8.79

Vanishing Point - 9.18

Dream Attack - 7.56

Not only is the technical execution perfect, but you can see the song coming together in real time. Just sublime! They have always been so ahead of their time.

Dream Attack is the ninth and final track from New Order's fifth album, Technique.

What do you think about the track both in general and in comparison to the rest of the band's discography, and how would you rate it out of 10 (decimals allowed)?

Listen Here:

https://youtu.be/VLh8VTqQgeQ?si=7TVAk-9iBaQIwDHN

Rating Scale:

1 - 4: Not Good, would skip.

5: Okay, but I would have to be in a specific mood to listen to it.

6: Slightly better than average, but I wouldn't choose to listen to it.

7: It's a good song, I can enjoy it quite a bit

8 - 9: It's a really enjoyable song, I rank it pretty high overall.

10: Masterpiece and other associated terms.

Song Ratings:

Technique

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

Fine Time - 5.96

All the Way - 7.57

Love Less - 8.22

Round & Round - 8.72

Guilty Partner - 6.58

Run - 8.18

Mr Disco - 8.79

Vanishing Point - 9.18

Dream Attack -

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

Previous Ratings:

Movement (Overall Average Score: 7.69/10)

Dreams Never End - 9.08

Truth - 7.25

Senses - 7.5

Chosen Time - 7.85

ICB - 7.56

The Him - 6.67

Doubts Even Here - 8.42

Denial - 7.2

1981 - 1982 B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 9.12/10)

Ceremony (Version 1) - 9.63

In A Lonely Place - 8.62

Ceremony (Version 2) - 9.76

Procession - 9.18

Everything's Gone Green - 9.31

Cries and Whispers - 9.41

Mesh - 7.98

Temptation - 9.95

Hurt - 8.26

Power, Corruption and Lies (Overall Average Score: 8.77)

Age of Consent - 9.74

We All Stand - 6.81

The Village - 9.52

586 - 8.35

Your Silent Face - 9.7

Ultraviolence - 8.41

Ecstacy - 8.06

Leave Me Alone - 9.62

1983 - 1984 B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 8.5)

Blue Monday - 9.86

The Beach - 7.31

Confusion - 7.78

Thieves Like Us - 9.47

Lonesome Tonight - 9.47

Murder - 7.11

Low-Life (Overall Average Score: 8.67)

Love Vigilantes - 9.25

The Perfect Kiss - 9.31

This Time of Night - 8.6

Sunrise - 8.41

Elegia - 8.89

Sooner Than You Think - 8.47

Sub-Culture - 8.4

Face Up - 8.08

1985 - 1986 Singles and B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 7.93)

The Perfect Kiss 12" Version - 9.88

Sub-Culture 12" Version - 6.5

Shellshock - 7.41

Brotherhood (Overall Average Score: 8.67)

Paradise - 8.5

Weirdo - 8.46

As It Is When It Was - 8.69

Broken Promise - 8.0

Way of Life - 9.08

Bizarre Love Triangle - 9.17

All Day Long - 9.34

Angel Dust - 8.73

Every Little Counts - 8.08

1986 - 1987 B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 8.57)

State of the Nation - 6.61

True Faith - 9.34

1963 - 9.49

Touched by the Hand of God - 8.87

Technique

Fine Time - 5.96

All the Way - 7.57

Love Less - 8.22

Round & Round - 8.72

Guilty Partner - 6.58

Run - 8.18

Mr Disco - 8.79

Vanishing Point - 9.18

I'm doing an album listening session for Technique today at 8:00 pm EDT / 5:00 pm PDT. It's online and free. Everyone presses play on their own streaming app at the same countdown and chats while it plays. I've actually never listened to Technique front-to-back, so would love some with insight to share it with.

The room opens 30 minutes early if you want to say hello and get your app queued up before the countdown.

Link to join:
https://soundclub.app/sessions-event/the-pocket-technique-2026-10-12

Full disclosure: this is on an app I run called Sound Club. It's book clubs for music. My club is in the middle of exploring new wave this week so there might be some other albums for you to dive into, as well!

Vanishing Point is the eighth track from New Order's fifth album, Technique.

What do you think about the track both in general and in comparison to the rest of the band's discography, and how would you rate it out of 10 (decimals allowed)?

Listen Here:

https://youtu.be/aWuNzXttLVE?si=N7_Q-6SDP3rNyPpB

Rating Scale:

1 - 4: Not Good, would skip.

5: Okay, but I would have to be in a specific mood to listen to it.

6: Slightly better than average, but I wouldn't choose to listen to it.

7: It's a good song, I can enjoy it quite a bit

8 - 9: It's a really enjoyable song, I rank it pretty high overall.

10: Masterpiece and other associated terms.

Song Ratings:

Technique

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

Fine Time - 5.96

All the Way - 7.57

Love Less - 8.22

Round & Round - 8.72

Guilty Partner - 6.58

Run - 8.18

Mr Disco - 8.79

Vanishing Point -

Previous Ratings:

Movement (Overall Average Score: 7.69/10)

Dreams Never End - 9.08

Truth - 7.25

Senses - 7.5

Chosen Time - 7.85

ICB - 7.56

The Him - 6.67

Doubts Even Here - 8.42

Denial - 7.2

1981 - 1982 B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 9.12/10)

Ceremony (Version 1) - 9.63

In A Lonely Place - 8.62

Ceremony (Version 2) - 9.76

Procession - 9.18

Everything's Gone Green - 9.31

Cries and Whispers - 9.41

Mesh - 7.98

Temptation - 9.95

Hurt - 8.26

Power, Corruption and Lies (Overall Average Score: 8.77)

Age of Consent - 9.74

We All Stand - 6.81

The Village - 9.52

586 - 8.35

Your Silent Face - 9.7

Ultraviolence - 8.41

Ecstacy - 8.06

Leave Me Alone - 9.62

1983 - 1984 B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 8.5)

Blue Monday - 9.86

The Beach - 7.31

Confusion - 7.78

Thieves Like Us - 9.47

Lonesome Tonight - 9.47

Murder - 7.11

Low-Life (Overall Average Score: 8.67)

Love Vigilantes - 9.25

The Perfect Kiss - 9.31

This Time of Night - 8.6

Sunrise - 8.41

Elegia - 8.89

Sooner Than You Think - 8.47

Sub-Culture - 8.4

Face Up - 8.08

1985 - 1986 Singles and B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 7.93)

The Perfect Kiss 12" Version - 9.88

Sub-Culture 12" Version - 6.5

Shellshock - 7.41

Brotherhood (Overall Average Score: 8.67)

Paradise - 8.5

Weirdo - 8.46

As It Is When It Was - 8.69

Broken Promise - 8.0

Way of Life - 9.08

Bizarre Love Triangle - 9.17

All Day Long - 9.34

Angel Dust - 8.73

Every Little Counts - 8.08

1986 - 1987 B-Sides (Overall Average Score: 8.57)

State of the Nation - 6.61

True Faith - 9.34

1963 - 9.49

Touched by the Hand of God - 8.87

Technique

Fine Time - 5.96

All the Way - 7.57

Love Less - 8.22

Round & Round - 8.72

Guilty Partner - 6.58

Run - 8.18

Mr Disco - 8.79

I've spent the last few days researching and writing a detailed history of Factory Records, from the Sex Pistols' appearances at Manchester's Lesser Free Trade Hall in 1976 through to the label's collapse in November 1992.

It's remarkable how much came out of one independent record label. Joy Division, New Order, Happy Mondays, A Certain Ratio and The Durutti Column were all part of its history, alongside Martin Hannett's production, Peter Saville's artwork and, of course, The Haçienda.

What interests me most is how Factory's greatest strengths arguably contributed to its downfall. The artists enjoyed extraordinary creative freedom, but expensive record sleeves, the financial demands of The Haçienda and the absence of conventional recording contracts eventually caught up with the company.

I've covered the people, records, decisions and stories behind it all in a new long-form feature for my independent music website, Beyond the Grooves.

Here's the article:

https://www.beyond-the-grooves.co.uk/blog/you-either-make-money-or-you-make-history

I'm interested in what other fans think. Was Factory's collapse inevitable, or could Tony Wilson and the others have preserved its independence while running a more sustainable business?