New+order

Tastes and sounds were changing quickly in the late '80s, which prompted New Order's most startling transformation yet – from moody dance-rockers to, well, moody acid-house mavens…

Singles is a greatest hits album by English rock band New Order. It was released on 3 October 2005 by London Records. The two-disc compilation includes the band's singles released between 1981 and 2005. Unlike the CD version of earlier singles compilation Substance 1987, the B-sides are not included. While Substance 1987 aimed to showcase New Order's 12-inch singles, Singles instead features mostly seven-inch versions, some of which are rare and differ from the album versions…

With the exception of Joy Division's last single, Love Will Tear Us Apart, which faded out gradually into the anguished silence of singer Ian Curtis' suicide, none of the band's songs ever really ended; they either fell apart or collapsed, as if to bring about a proper end to something beyond their grasp. Joy Division couldn't stand still…

Arranged by Craig DeGraff, who claims, hopefully with tongue placed somewhat injuriously in cheek, "Not since the KLF has there been such a rock & roll swindle," Future Retro is a compilation from Rhino that sets up WEA-distributed hits of the early '80s (most of them new wave) with remixers…

The Canadian duo Kon Kan (musician Barry Harris and vocalist Kevin Wynne) scored an out-of-nowhere smash in 1989 with the quirky single "I Beg Your Pardon." Incorporating a repetitive drum beat, a catchy keyboard line, Wynne's droll vocal delivery (somewhat similar to New Order's Bernard Sumner) and the ingenious sampling of Lynn Anderson's hit "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden," "I Beg Your Pardon" became a dancefloor staple and eventually crossed over to the pop charts where it hit the Top 20…

This 1978 set of recordings over two days at an Amsterdam theater reveals that two musicians who are disciplined enough can also be free enough to improvise completely without regard for structural convention or the force placed upon improvisers from within their own circle to make their music sound "spontaneously composed." In other words, these two cats make some cool-assed noise and could care less if the serious art types dig it or not. Insecurity is not an issue for this pair. These 11 improvisations have titles, but they are of absolutely no consequence and were probably added when the recordings were about to be issued…

It has been six years since the debut disc by the Other Two (The Other Two & You), an off-shoot band from New Order featuring Gillian Gilbert and Steven Morris. Their first album has a very strong pop music feel; while pleasant enough, it is not a brilliant record. Six years and many struggles later this album appeared. It seems that this was a difficult album to release…

Testament is an American thrash metal band from Berkeley, California. Formed in 1983 under the name Legacy, the band's current lineup comprises guitarists Eric Peterson and Alex Skolnick, lead vocalist Chuck Billy, drummer Gene Hoglan, and bassist Steve Di Giorgio. In the 34 years since its inception, Testament has had numerous lineup changes, and Peterson has been the only constant member…

The 80s Compilation market is a minefield - a lack of variety, re-recorded versions, poor sound quality among the pitfalls - but Demon Music Groups' "100 Hits" series have been the pick of the bunch in recent times…