New Order - Movement (1981)

German Import

I originally thought this album is Joy Division simply trying to find their way after the death of Ian Curtis. But then I heard bassist Peter Hook describe the album as "Joy Division music with New Order vocals" and his description is better than mine, so here you go:

Some final thoughts on the 40th anniversary of ‘Movement’ today…

Loved seeing lots of you giving the album a play today, thanks for all the tweets - we’ll make sure to play some ‘Movement’ tracks on next year’s tour!

Hope to see you soon!https://t.co/aRq5vk7N7r pic.twitter.com/nJRMYsDxpd

— Peter Hook (@peterhook) November 13, 2021

So one could make the argument that Power, Corruption & Lies the first true New Order album and I'm okay with that.

My copy, a 2000 import reissue, has no liner notes and no bonus tracks.

Press of the time:

• Smash Hits (8 out of 10 - review by future Pet Shop Boy Neil Tennant): "electronic but human (even romantic!)"
• Billboard: "brooding, dark and slightly unnerving"
• Trouser Press: "superior mood music"
• Robert Christgau: (B+): "Very atmospheric--the spaceship as sepulcher, with a beat."
• Record Mirror (★★★★): "a spell-binding record"

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: Of the 8 tracks here, my top picks are Dreams Never End, Senses, and Chosen Time which all at least give a hint of what was to come from the group.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Unfortunately, I may have made a memory just this week. As I was listening to this disc, I grabbed my sophomore yearbook ('81-'82) off the shelf and mindlessly started flipping through pages. I visited my hometown last month for a funeral and, though it has been demolished for a few years, I finally saw firsthand that the high school building where I attended classes was nothing more than a grass field situated next to the brand new facility that had taken its place. Granted, the building I remember was built in 1949 and a dump even when I was in school, but just the fact that it was gone got to me. Looking through the yearbook and seeing interior and exterior pictures of the building, classrooms, gyms, etc. - soundtracked by this Joy Division-ish music - was depressing as hell. And then I started noticing photographs of students and teachers who are no longer with us and that did me in completely. Needless to say, I have sworn off both this album and high school yearbooks for a while, possibly a good, long while.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Waiting For The Sirens' Call (2005)
Get Ready (2001)
(the best of) New Order (1995)
(the rest of) New Order (1995)
Republic© (1993)
Bizarre Love Triangle (1986)
Brotherhood (1986)