Music Complete

Music Complete
Studio album by New Order
Released 25 September 2015 (2015-09-25)
Recorded 2014–15
Genre
Length 64:26
Label Mute
Producer
New Order chronology
Lost Sirens (2013) Music Complete (2015) Complete Music (2016)
Singles from Music Complete
  1. "Restless"
    Released: 29 July 2015
  2. "Tutti Frutti"
    Released: 19 October 2015
  3. "Singularity"
    Released: 18 March 2016
  4. "People on the High Line"
    Released: 29 July 2016

Music Complete is the tenth studio album by the English rock band New Order. It was released on 25 September 2015 by Mute Records, their debut on the label.[4] The album features guest vocals from Elly Jackson of La Roux, Iggy Pop and Brandon Flowers.

During summer 2014, New Order promoted the album through online media, at Lollapalooza Chile with "Singularity" and "Plastic", and half-minute snippets directly on their YouTube account. It was announced that Gillian Gilbert returned to the band, but with Tom Chapman taking Peter Hook's bassist role.

The album itself musically is more electronic-focused than its two predecessors, and New Order's first of new material in a decade. The cover art was designed by long-time collaborator Peter Saville, which comprises a montage of lines with four colour schemes: red, yellow, green, and blue, which varies depending on packaging.

Music Complete was released on CD, both clear and black vinyl LP, and digital download on 25 September 2015, with an 8LP deluxe box set released on 20 November. The album received generally favourable reviews. A tour in support of the album ran from 4 November 2015 through 20 December 2015.

Background

Music Complete pursues a more electronic direction than New Order's previous two albums, which had been more guitar-based.[5] This is the first album without former bassist Peter Hook, as well as the recorded debut of Tom Chapman and the return of Gillian Gilbert, who had taken leave from the band in 2001, but toured with them in 2013. Guest backing vocals are provided by Denise Johnson and Dawn Zee, who has performed with the band on their last three albums.

In March and July 2014, the band revealed their first new songs on tour at Lollapalooza Chile and in the United States: "Plastic" and "Singularity".[6][7]

On 2 and 4 September 2014, Billboard, along with Stereogum and Consequence of Sound reported that New Order had signed on to Mute Records and that future releases were expected, at the time planned to be EPs which would then be "probably put together as an album." Billboard also announced Bernard Sumner's autobiography, Chapter and Verse, which was released on 24 September of the same year.[8][9][10]

On 22 June, the official New Order site announced the release date and title of the album, Music Complete. The website also provided terms of distribution: CD, digital download, and limited edition clear vinyl, along with an exclusive 8-piece deluxe vinyl collection that includes the album plus extended versions of all 11 tracks on coloured vinyl.[11]

On 22 June, 30 June, and 7 July, the official New Order YouTube channel uploaded three separate teasers that included snippets of music from the album.[12][13][14]

On 29 July, "Restless" was released as the first single for the album.[15] On 19 October, "Tutti Frutti" was released as the album's second single. A third single, "Singularity", was released 18 March 2016.[16] "People on the High Line" is slated for release as the fourth single, announced with a fan music video competition.[17]

Promotion

Packaging

The artwork for Music Complete was created by New Order's long-time art director and collaborator Peter Saville. The artwork features a montage of lines with the colours red, yellow, green and blue. Depending on the type of format, the colour schemes vary. For the CD, the pattern clockwise from top right is yellow, red, blue, green. The LPs are red, yellow, green, and blue. Digital downloads are the regular format; blue, green, red, and yellow. The deluxe edition's artwork is the same as the album, but all six coloured vinyl sleeves are different styles, and have no colour. The six coloured vinyl range from red to purple.[18][19][20][21][22][23]

Release

Music Complete was released on 25 September in five different formats: CD, regular and limited-edition double-clear LP, digital download, and an 8-piece deluxe vinyl box set. All CD and LP orders come with MP3 and audio downloads of the album. The deluxe box set includes the clear double LP, along with extended versions of all 11 tracks on six different coloured vinyl. The box set was released on 6 November 2015.

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic76/100[24]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[25]
The A.V. ClubB[26]
The Guardian[27]
Mixmag8/10[1]
Mojo[28]
The Observer[29]
Pitchfork Media7.2/10[30]
Q[31]
Rolling Stone[32]
Uncut7/10[33]

Music Complete received generally positive reviews from critics, with a 76 out of 100 based on 21 reviews on Metacritic, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".[24] Mixmag's S. Worthy described the record as "an album of outstanding pop, shuddering dance-rock and intricate electronic moods.[1] Barry Walters of Rolling Stone wrote: "Just as Curtis' suicide inspired his bandmates to reinvent themselves as New Order in 1980, Hook's departure frees them to create their most varied and substantial work in decades."[32] Michael Roffman of Consequence of Sound called Music Complete "the rare late era LP that blossoms with life, while also echoing the past",[34] while Tim Jonze of The Guardian wrote that the album "feels like the freshest thing they've done in ages."[27]

Pitchfork Media critic T. Cole Rachel remarked that Music Complete sounds like "classic New Order" and that the album "certainly doesn’t do anything to diminish New Order’s formidable legacy, but it doesn’t necessarily expand upon it either."[30] Uncut felt that it "drags and trundles in places", but is "easily New Order's best album since Technique, and probably their most musically diverse ever."[33] In a less favourable review, Tim Sendra of AllMusic called it "a watered-down and uninspired album by a band that lost the plot long ago and can now only capture an occasional glimmer of what made it so great in the first place."[25] Concluding a less favourable 1 of 5 star review, Truck & Driver wrote: "...full of soggy, uninspired self-indulgent material that sounds like a mish-mash of 80s B-sides. Save your money."[35]

Accolades

Publication Accolade Year Rank
The Guardian The Best Albums of 2015 2015
NME NME's Albums of the Year 2015 2015

Track listing

All tracks written by New Order, except where noted. 

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Restless"    5:28
2. "Singularity"  
 5:37
3. "Plastic"    6:55
4. "Tutti Frutti" (featuring Elly Jackson)  6:22
5. "People on the High Line" (featuring Elly Jackson)  5:41
6. "Stray Dog" (featuring Iggy Pop)  6:17
7. "Academic"    5:54
8. "Nothing but a Fool"    7:43
9. "Unlearn This Hatred"  
  • New Order
  • Rowlands
 4:19
10. "The Game"    5:06
11. "Superheated" (featuring Brandon Flowers)
  • New Order
  • Flowers
 5:04
Total length:
 64:36

Tour

The band embarked on an initial tour in support of Music Complete from 4 November 2015 to 20 December 2015, with tour dates held across Europe and the UK plus stops at the Clockenflap festival in Hong Kong and the Day for Night Festival in the United States.[38] Future tour plans include the 2016 Sónar Festival in Barcelona.[39]

Personnel

New Order

Musician credits for New Order are not listed in the liner notes of the album's personnel. Below are the instruments that the group typically plays.

Production

The liner notes list the album's personnel as follows:

  • New Order – producer (tracks 1, 3–8, 10, 11)
  • Rebecca Boulton and Andrew Robinson (at Prime Management) – Management
  • Daniel Miller – executive producer
  • Tom Rowlands – producer (tracks 2, 9)
  • Stuart Price – additional production (track 11)
  • Danny Davies – engineering, pre-production
  • Jim Spencer – additional engineering (Eve Studios, Stockport)
  • Rafael Pereira – additional engineering (Elite Music studios, Miami)
  • Robert Root – additional engineering (Battle Born studios, Las Vegas)
  • Steve Dub – additional engineering (Rowlands Audio Research)
  • Craig Silvey – mixing (Toast studios, London) (tracks 1, 2, 4–10)
  • Eduardo de la Paz – mixing assistant (Toast studios, London) (tracks 1, 2, 4–10)
  • Richard X and Pete Hofmann – mixing (track 3)
  • Iggy Pop – vocals (track 6)
  • Brandon Flowers – vocals, mixing (track 11)
  • La Roux – vocals (tracks 4, 5), backing vocals (track 3)
  • Dawn Zee – backing vocals (tracks 3, 8)
  • Denise Johnson – backing vocals (tracks 3, 8)
  • Giacomo Cavagna – Italian spoken vocal (track 4)

Strings

  • Joe Duddell – string arrangements, conductor (Manchester Camerata Strings) (1, 4, 5, 8, 10)
  • Katie Stillman, Paula Smart, Karen Mainwaring, Simmy Singh, Sophie Mather, Gemma Bass, Anthony Banks and Sian Goodwin – violins
  • Rachel Jones and Jordan Bowron – violas
  • Nathaniel Boyd and Barbara Grunthal – cellos
  • Daniel Storer – double bass
  • Strings recorded at 80 Hertz Studios, The Sharp Project, Manchester
  • George Atkins – engineer (strings)

Technical

  • Frank Arkwright – mastering (Abbey Road Studios)
  • Peter Saville – art direction
  • Paul Hetherington – design

Charts

Chart (2015) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[40] 20
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[41] 26
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[42] 22
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[43] 11
Croatian Combined Albums (HDU)[44] 36
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI)[45] 23
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[46] 26
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[47] 10
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[48] 39
French Albums (SNEP)[49] 19
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[50] 14
Irish Albums (IRMA)[51] 6
Irish Independent Albums (IRMA)[52] 2
Italian Albums (FIMI)[53] 58
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[54] 37
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[55] 24
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[56] 30
Scottish Albums (OCC)[57] 2
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[58] 17
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[59] 14
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[60] 19
UK Albums (OCC)[61] 2
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[62] 1
US Billboard 200[63] 34
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[64] 5
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[65] 7
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[66] 8

References

  1. 1 2 3 Worthy, S. (18 September 2015). "New Order 'Music Complete' (MUTE)". Mixmag. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  2. ↑ Grow, Kory (23 September 2015). "Inside New Order's Triumphant Return to Dance-Rock". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  3. ↑ McAuliffe, Colm (16 September 2015). "New Order's Stephen Morris talks Music Complete". The Skinny. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  4. ↑ "Watch A Teaser For New Order's New Album Music Complete". Stereogum. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  5. ↑ "The Quietus | Features | A Quietus Interview | Unfinished Business: New Order Interviewed". The Quietus. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
  6. ↑ Dart, Chris. "New Order debut new song, 'Plastic,' at show in Chicago". music.cbc.ca. CBC. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  7. ↑ Hudson, Alex (17 March 2014). "New Order Announce North American Summer Tour, Play Vancouver". exclaim.ca. Exclaim!. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  8. ↑ Smirke, Richard (2 September 2014). "New Order Signs to Mute Records, Plans New Release in 2015". www.billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  9. ↑ Sesar, Misha (7 July 2015). "New Order's Music Complete Features Brandon Flowers, Iggy Pop, La Roux". Stereogum. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  10. ↑ Kaye, Ben (22 January 2015). "New Order intend to release new album in Fall 2015". consequenceofsound.net. Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  11. ↑ New Order (22 June 2015). "New Order Announce New Album: Music Complete: 25th September 2015". www.neworder.com. New Order. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  12. ↑ New Order (22 June 2015). "New Order - Music Complete: 1". www.youtube.com. YouTube. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  13. ↑ New Order (30 June 2015). "New Order - Music Complete: 2". www.youtube.com. YouTube. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  14. ↑ New Order (7 July 2015). "New Order - Music Complete: 3". www.youtube.com. YouTube. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  15. ↑ "Hear New Order's Triumphant New Song 'Restless'.". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  16. ↑ "MUTE • New Order • Share Erol Alkan's Remix of Singularity". MUTE. Retrieved 2016-04-11.
  17. ↑ "New Order". Genero. Retrieved 2016-05-14.
  18. ↑ "Music Complete Deluxe Vinyl Box Set". usstore.neworder.com. New Order. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  19. ↑ "Music Complete CD". usstore.neworder.com. New Order. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  20. ↑ "Music Complete 2LP (Black Vinyl)". usstore.neworder.com. New Order. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  21. ↑ "Music Complete HD Audio Download". usstore.neworder.com. New Order. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  22. ↑ "Music Complete Audio Download". usstore.neworder.com. New Order. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  23. ↑ "Music Complete Limited Edition 2LP (Clear Vinyl)". usstore.neworder.com. New Order. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  24. 1 2 "Reviews for Music Complete by New Order". Metacritic. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  25. 1 2 Sendra, Tim. "Music Complete – New Order". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  26. ↑ Modell, Josh (25 September 2015). "New Order: Music Complete". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  27. 1 2 Jonze, Tim (24 September 2015). "New Order: Music Complete review – fresh, danceable album with intriguing diversions". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  28. ↑ Cameron, Keith (25 September 2015). "New Order – Music Complete". Mojo. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  29. ↑ Mongredien, Phil (27 September 2015). "New Order: Music Complete review – an unexpectedly coherent return". The Observer. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  30. 1 2 Rachel, T. Cole (22 September 2015). "New Order: Music Complete". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  31. ↑ "New Order: Music Complete". Q (351): 116. October 2015.
  32. 1 2 Walters, Barry (21 September 2015). "Music Complete". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  33. 1 2 "New Order: Music Complete". Uncut (221): 74. October 2015.
  34. ↑ Roffman, Michael (23 September 2015). "New Order – Music Complete". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  35. ↑ Connors, Shaun (January 2016). "Review: Don't Order". Truck & Driver. Sutton, Surrey, England: Kelsey Publishing Group: 30.
  36. ↑ "The Best Albums of 2015". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. December 2, 2015. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  37. ↑ "NME'S Albums of the Year 2015". nme.com. Retrieved 2015-12-10.
  38. ↑ "New Order - New Order - New Order touring 2015". www.neworder.com. Retrieved 2015-12-15.
  39. ↑ "New Order - New Order - New Order Announce Sonar 2016". www.neworder.com. Retrieved 2015-12-15.
  40. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – New Order – Music Complete". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  41. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – New Order – Music Complete" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  42. ↑ "Ultratop.be – New Order – Music Complete" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  43. ↑ "Ultratop.be – New Order – Music Complete" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  44. ↑ "Top Kombiniranih [Top Combined]" (in Croatian). Top Combined Albums. Hrvatska diskografska udruga. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  45. ↑ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 201542 on the field besides the word "Zobrazit", and then click over the word to retrieve the correct chart data. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  46. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – New Order – Music Complete". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  47. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – New Order – Music Complete" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  48. ↑ "New Order: Music Complete" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  49. ↑ "Lescharts.com – New Order – Music Complete". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  50. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – New Order – Music Complete" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  51. ↑ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 40, 2015". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  52. ↑ "GFK Chart-Track – Independent Albums: Week 40, 2015". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  53. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – New Order – Music Complete". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  54. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – New Order – Music Complete". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  55. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – New Order – Music Complete". Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
  56. ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – New Order – Music Complete". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  57. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  58. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – New Order – Music Complete". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  59. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – New Order – Music Complete". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  60. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – New Order – Music Complete". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  61. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  62. ↑ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  63. ↑ "New Order – Chart history" Billboard 200 for New Order. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
  64. ↑ "New Order – Chart history" Billboard Independent Albums for New Order. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  65. ↑ "New Order – Chart history" Billboard Top Alternative Albums for New Order. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  66. ↑ "New Order – Chart history" Billboard Top Rock Albums for New Order. Retrieved 24 October 2015.

External links

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