Cuttings

NME Macclesfleld THIS WAS the Hometown Heroes Event- local boy and girl make good. The concrete walls echoed in defiance as the intensity of the musical wash heightened. Gee, those pedestals grow with every report, but the post-punk praise is still appropriate. 'Love Will Tear Us Apart‘ (a version) was full of emotion. The guitars and bass growled in contempt, sustaining a power—packed, passionate charge. This was an extreme, along with 'Blue Monday'. Too many backing tapes (dead or alive?), it was still a danceable ditty, suitably refreshing and seriously seductive. But another side was revealed as Bore ‘n' Order welcomed a mass of self-indulgent sogginess, less meaningful masterpieces than hippy-dippy whitewash. No points given for atmosphere (that blue light was certainly overworked) when the music‘s more painful than an ingrowing toenail. It must be a Tall Order living up to their unique reputation, but the fact that our heroes can sometimes cut it means