New Order "Touched By The Hand of God" Review

LATE GREAT SINGLE OF THE WEEK

NEW ORDER: Touched By The Hand Of God (Factory)

Delivered last in a brown paper bag, this late, great single is not so much touched by God's hand as the hand of Arthur Baker. New Order are the thinking man's Pet Shop Boys and what Baker does to their sound is ship it of any unnecessary ornamentation. There's no pop pretentiousness here - well, "In a Salford town, Salford boys..." doesn't sound right does it?

Albrecht and Co are producing their best records as their career as a band wanes (as surely it must do). Here, hi-energy pumps up a beat that is the perfect counterpart for Barney's low-key vocals: clinical, stabbing guitars puncture some taut percussion, and the whole song sways along on a tune that fully deserves to rocket up the greasy end of the charts.

This is the perfect single. The perfect single for New Order to split upon.