New Order True Faith

Yet another New Order compilation? Add Retro to the dizzying stack of New Order compilations and best-ofs. Actually, it was the second comp to come out in the last half of 2002 (International was released in October and contains nearly every song that is on Retro). With that said, Retro is probably the most expansive and interesting New Order compilation since 1987's Substance. Keeping an eye and ear on the amazing Joy Division set Heart and Soul, Rhino stepped in to publish this box as well (that alone will give Retro a bit more credibility). The packaging is more or less identical to Heart and Soul's four-CD orientation and comes complete with its own Peter Saville-directed artwork and 70-plus-page booklet. Unlike the Joy Division set, Retro makes no attempt to create a comprehensive or complete look at New Order's expansive catalog…

Now that Waiting for the Sirens' Call has been officially declared part of New Order's history, only eight months after release, it's time once again to reassess the group in the form of a mostly redundant compilation. Rhino calls Singles the group's "first ever career-spanning two-disc retrospective," but it's more like the group's first compilation to contain tracks from Sirens' Call. Besides, 1987's Substance spanned the group's career upon release and remains the basis for most New Order compilations (this one included), so it's no big deal. Just as importantly, over a third of the contents date from 1993 onward; that's too high a percentage to make the set an ideal introduction. Considering its title, Singles has a clear-cut purpose, unlike 2002's International. Then again, each of the 14 tracks contained on International are also here - what amounts to an inferior version of Substance with some crucial tracks squeezed out in favor of lesser, later singles…

Now that Waiting for the Sirens' Call has been officially declared part of New Order's history, only eight months after release, it's time once again to reassess the group in the form of a mostly redundant compilation. Rhino calls Singles the group's "first ever career-spanning two-disc retrospective," but it's more like the group's first compilation to contain tracks from Sirens' Call. Besides, 1987's Substance spanned the group's career upon release and remains the basis for most New Order compilations (this one included), so it's no big deal. Just as importantly, over a third of the contents date from 1993 onward; that's too high a percentage to make the set an ideal introduction. Considering its title, Singles has a clear-cut purpose, unlike 2002's International. Then again, each of the 14 tracks contained on International are also here - what amounts to an inferior version of Substance with some crucial tracks squeezed out in favor of lesser, later singles…

Any band that's released nearly as many compilations as studio albums in the past 15 years certainly doesn't need another one, but International appeared anyway, and though it's slightly better than The Best of New Order, it's not nearly as solid as Substance. Beginning with New Order's recorded debut, 1981's "Ceremony," the collection proceeds immediately to the group's worldwide breakout with 1983's "Blue Monday," then slots mid-'80s classics "Confusion," "The Perfect Kiss," and "Bizarre Love Triangle." It certainly didn't need three tracks from 2001's Get Ready. Most of the tracks are album versions, though the compilers made wise choices on remixes of "Bizarre Love Triangle" and "Touched by the Hand of God." As befits a middling compilation from an excellent band, International is a take-it-or-leave-it proposition.

"Round & Round" is a song by New Order and the second single from their 1989 album Technique. It was re-recorded for single release with Stephen Hague, who had previously worked with the group on their hit "True Faith".
The 7" version, co-produced by Stephen Hague, emphasizes the melody, synth pads, and vocals. It has a similar structure to the album version, but replaces the instrumental break with a repeat of the intro and fades out in conclusion. This is the version used in the music video. The 12" version has a 2:45 intro sequence and stops cold before proceeding much as in the 7" version. It has a wash of synthesizers and a keyboard solo midway through the song. Also, the line "It makes me act like a child" repeats several times as the song ends. Instead of fading out like the 7" version, it ends in a manner closer to the original album version though less discordant.

New Order‘s Singles compilation from 2005 was beset by problems including a highly compressed ‘remastering’ and incorrect versions of some tracks. Warners have fixed these issues and released a new and improved version of this compilation on 2CD and 4LP vinyl in September 2016.

2011 three CD set, the fifth volume in the So80s series. The finest collection of original classic 12" club & extended mixes.
Blank & Jones' fifth So80s mix continues the duo's omnivorous presentation of '80s club music. Within the span of only a few tracks, the first disc moves from Bananarama's "Cruel Summer" to John Carpenter's "The End" and Liaisons Dangereuses' "Los Ninos del Parque" - from chart-topping pop to deep, cult-level gems. Among the other inclusions are Rick Springfield's "Celebrate Youth," New Order's "True Faith," Deacon Blue's "Real Gone Kid," and Thompson Twins' "Hold Me Now." Listeners with similarly broad taste will lap it all up.