David Nolan - Bernard Sumner by Confusion

Author:Confusion
Format: epub
Published: 2013-10-28T16:00:00+00:00

CONFUSION EIGHT: A WIZARD WHEEZE

Terry Mason, school friend of Bernard Sumner and Peter Hook, guitarist-turned-drummer of Stiff Kittens, minder-cum-confidant of Ian Curtis and the road crew chief of New Order, found that his responsibilities had expanded a touch after a sudden change in the group dynamic. ‘At this point,’ states Mason over a mixed grill in a Salford pub, ‘Rob Gretton had gone mad. I’m not sure what was on his certificate when he was sectioned, but he was taken off in a straight jacket he’d turned manic.’

Coincidentally, a sense of mania would seep elsewhere too. It would spread through the group and mark a souring of Bernard’s relationship with Tony Wilson, a collapse of his trust issues with the press and the end of his marriage. Given that these were relationships already strained at the best of times, it was a dark period all round. Just to press the point home, New Order released a new album. It was called Low-life and it was given the Factory catalogue number of FAC 100.

Low-life is a push towards a more easy-access New Order - its even got a photograph of a member of the band [Morris] on the cover. Just like normal bands do. Its an open attempt - without being blatant - to be liked; an album you’d offer to someone impressed by the thrust of ‘Blue Monday’ and it plays like the soundtrack to a raucous night out in Manchester, with New Order as your tour guides and party organisers. It opens with a traditional technique - a wrong-footing. First track, ‘Love Vigilantes’ is a rare stab at a linear story song, whereby Sumner tells a tale of woe as he returns home from battle, just slightly behind a letter to his loved one telling her he is dead. With its stuttering melodica and 4/4 drums, it comes across as a slightly folksy change of tone, but the Country and North-Western tone doesn’t last long. The spurs are soon slipped off and left at the saloon and the disco vibe kicks in. ‘The Perfect Kiss’ is an extended dash to the dancefloor with double handclaps and hedonistic lyrics that would suit Pete Burns and Dead Or Alive down to the ground. ‘Sunrise’ is a clattering rock song that seems to see the band repaying a previous compliment to The Cure - Sumner even seems to drop his Salford accent for a more fey, southern, Robert Smith-style twang. There are modish textures reminiscent of Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells and synth glamour pusses Japan in the instrumental ‘Elegia’. ‘Sooner Than You Think’ is a big city driving song, perfect for cruising down the Princess Parkway, the dual carriageway that connects Factory’s offices in Didsbury to The Haçienda. ‘Sub-culture’ continues the party once you’ve got passed through the Haçienda doors and ‘Face Up’ is a synth whoop-fest that will see you through till chucking out time at 2a.m. There may be a feeling of coming down from a party like Low-life, but any post-celebration downer is definitely worthwhile after being shown such a good time.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.