New Order - "Low-Life" Sounds Review

LOW RIDERS - Sounds

NEW ORDER
'Low Life'
(Factory FACT 100)
****

Perhaps the new dawn really is upon us. New Order, if not yet allowing the full glare of daylight to fall upon their faded carpets, have at least allowed a half-light to penetrate the black bedroom curtains. It may even be that our dour friends have had a discreet boot up the bum.

Because guess what? Opener 'Love Vigilantes' grabs you by the throat and yells 'Dream Syndicate!'. A slab of American pie among mushy peas, and the direction suits New Order as naturally as a baggy suit. The Beatles play ‘Blue Monday' - you‘d better believe it!

Though the rest of the package doesn't quite match up to this spectacular and unexpected promise, it does give a less bittersweet, more palatable slice of listening. Grey industralist disco fans won't, though, cast it aside with a snarl of the upper lip and a flick of the flat top. But they should approve of this new taste of variety which colours rather than taints any previous ideology.

What's changed? Nothing that discernable, just a new curvaciousness of vocal, less obliqueness in that so easily cliched bassline. A nod towards mixed blood - so much healthier than purism.

And you know what else? You might even find a true love song in there. You just might.

CAROLE LINFIELD