This is the first in a series of reviews of what I like to call 'summer albums', albums which evoke – for me at least – the warmth and optimism of the summer months.
New Order's Technique is one such album. Generally regarded as being among the seminal Manchester band's best albums, Technique was recorded in the acid haze of the nascent Balearic sound; always comfortable with hedonism, the eclectic Balearic mix of pre-baggy indie, electro-infused rock and early acid house which was played in Ibizan nightclubs provided the inspiration for Technique.
Not that you'd know it. Aside from a general sunny vibe (mostly) evident across the album, Technique is actually one of New Order's most 'rock' albums since Movement, their confused post-Ian Curtis debut. One exception is the opener, 'Fine Time', which nicks a jacking acid house rhythm and throws the sonic kitchen sink at it – computerised voices, Hooky's bass melodies, tinkly xylophone riffs and even bleating sheep noises right at the end; it has Hooky intoning scarily that the object of the song is 'too young' and that said person has 'love technique'. It's positively pervy if you ask me, and overall the track - like many at the time - has too many disparate ideas running through it. I sometimes skip it to be honest. Far better is the late-Eighties club-friendly sound and endearing melancholia of 'Mr Disco' (so long as you can stomach Pet Shop Boys-style orchestral stabs).
Elsewhere, jangly guitar riffs, classic Hooky bass melodies and some of Bernard Sumner's best heartfelt lyrics abound. The best tracks, for me, would be the guitar pop of 'All The Way', 'Love Less' and 'Run'. For many years my personal favourite was 'Vanishing Point', an austere electronic pop gem infused with a thudding 4/4 beat.
Technique brings to mind some strong memories for me – listening to the album in my friend Steve's red Polo with another friend, Jon, on the way to work social events during the particularly sticky summer of 1993; sticking the CD on ahead of going to Clacton for a boozy day with Neil after we'd finished the slog of our second year exams at Essex University in 1996. It's just one of those albums, and it will always get heavy play by me during the summer months.
New Order's Technique is one such album. Generally regarded as being among the seminal Manchester band's best albums, Technique was recorded in the acid haze of the nascent Balearic sound; always comfortable with hedonism, the eclectic Balearic mix of pre-baggy indie, electro-infused rock and early acid house which was played in Ibizan nightclubs provided the inspiration for Technique.
Not that you'd know it. Aside from a general sunny vibe (mostly) evident across the album, Technique is actually one of New Order's most 'rock' albums since Movement, their confused post-Ian Curtis debut. One exception is the opener, 'Fine Time', which nicks a jacking acid house rhythm and throws the sonic kitchen sink at it – computerised voices, Hooky's bass melodies, tinkly xylophone riffs and even bleating sheep noises right at the end; it has Hooky intoning scarily that the object of the song is 'too young' and that said person has 'love technique'. It's positively pervy if you ask me, and overall the track - like many at the time - has too many disparate ideas running through it. I sometimes skip it to be honest. Far better is the late-Eighties club-friendly sound and endearing melancholia of 'Mr Disco' (so long as you can stomach Pet Shop Boys-style orchestral stabs).
Elsewhere, jangly guitar riffs, classic Hooky bass melodies and some of Bernard Sumner's best heartfelt lyrics abound. The best tracks, for me, would be the guitar pop of 'All The Way', 'Love Less' and 'Run'. For many years my personal favourite was 'Vanishing Point', an austere electronic pop gem infused with a thudding 4/4 beat.
Technique brings to mind some strong memories for me – listening to the album in my friend Steve's red Polo with another friend, Jon, on the way to work social events during the particularly sticky summer of 1993; sticking the CD on ahead of going to Clacton for a boozy day with Neil after we'd finished the slog of our second year exams at Essex University in 1996. It's just one of those albums, and it will always get heavy play by me during the summer months.
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