Cuttings

NME - HIGH LIFE NEW ORDER Powerhouse, Melbourne, Australia THE two-and-a-half years since New Order’s last jaunt Down Under have heralded dramatic changes in the musical output of the group. The solemn moodiness that dominated their sets then has now been totally replaced by the bright, danceable tone of the sequencer. The shrouds of Joy Division have well and truly been removed. To those involved, tonight's gig was more than just another performance. It was on this very night five years ago that Joy Division's lead singer, Ian Curtis, committed suicide. The group knew it, and so did much of the crowd. Under circumstances like that, the atmosphere could be nothing but electric. The Mancunian foursome’s reputation for sub-par shows was definitely not in evidence tonight, as they produced an absolutely inspired performance. The group looked strangely out of place on a stage, totally lacking the "pop star" glamour all too prevalent in much of today‘s music.