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Movement

New Order - Movement Audio CD

A fair review of the New Order "Movement" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all New Order reviews here, or go back to the New Order tabs.

Band: New Order
Title: Movement
Rating:

Release Date: 1992-11-03
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Dreams Never End 2: Truth 3: Senses 4: Chosen Time 5: I.C.B. 6: Him 7: Doubts Even Here 8: Denial

Transitional album
To be fair, the death of Ian Curtis greatly affected the band, creatively as well as personally. 'Movement' is a very ironic title, because if ever a band sounded stuck in the one spot and desperately uncertain where to go next, it's New Order on their debut album. Without him, New Order seem caught in two minds; they don't want to just rehash Joy Division's sound, but they are also unable or unwilling to push their music forward.

A few new ideas are evident, though. There are some tentative steps toward pop ('Dreams Never End'), electronica ('Truth') and upbeat dance ('Chosen Time'). Elsewhere, the band seem stuck in a rut, churning out dark, introspective songs reminiscent of Ian Curtis. They all seem to reference Curtis' death in some way, with nearly every song containing lyrics about "strange days", "the last reaction", "no reason ever was given", and "it frightens me". Bernard Sumner's singing is very subdued and somber, with none of the boyish ethusiasm of his later work. Peter Hook's bass remains at the low end of the reigster, and apart from 'Chosen Time', Gillian Gilbert's keyboards are relentlessly gloomy and gothic. The real star of 'Movement' for mine is Stephen Morris, who turns in some outstanding tribal-influenced drum beats on several songs.

But while their former band is a clear influence here, 'Movement' doesn't really sound that much like Joy Division. Despite their arty dark image, Joy Division could still rock really hard when they wanted to. In contrast, 'Movement' seems almost devoid of energy, and producer Martin Hannett needs to take the blame for this. Hannett crushes the life out of the album with a suffocating production that robs the songs of any impact, keeping us emotionally distant and removed. And his trademark scratches and squeaks are carelessly applied, winding up distracting instead of interesting.

The dark and often depressing nature of the songs, the lack of sonic variety, and the heavy-handed production make 'Movement' a very challenging listen. The problem is that, at this early stage, New Order don't quite reward the effort that you need to put into this album. There are a few strong songs and some pointers to the band's future, but ultimately 'Movement' winds up a bit unsatisfying. However, for all its flaws, 'Movement' is an important transitional album between Joy Division and mid-period New Order, making it essential for dedicated fans of both bands.

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Ian lives in this sound
It's a treat to listen to. Fans of Joy Division and the darker side of New Order must have this. I always crave this sound, and overplay my Joy Division. So recently I've been listening to a ton of Clan of Xymox, Dead Can Dance, some old albums from The Cure, She Wants Revenge, but this is the first CD that has really found the exact place I was after - that certain dark comfort only music understands. Brilliant! .

Pre-New Order, and Post-Joy Division
And this album really seems to be the "between" point that is missing if you only heard "Love Will Tear Us Apart Again" and "Blue Monday". I have to give this one 5 stars since I'm both a JD and a NO fan. Of course, you really have to like both incarnations of the band to like this CD, but for those few, this is one to own.
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A Must Have!
It's brilliant!
All the theoretical, intellectual and creative darkness of Joy Division was simply that, theoretical. I don't know why people like to rag on this album. This album is the reflection of real emotional torment. It's always surprised me that people criticize Movement for being dreary and unenergized when it's that aesthetic which Joy Division used and elaborated on. Once you listen to it with open ears you'll hear that it contains a great deal of power.

Movement is intense, the music is sonicly more dramatic and diverse than Unknown Pleasures or Closer. It has this great electronic aspect to it which upon listening closely is very lush and dynamic. The second track "Truth" is my favorite, those synths are so heavy and powerful. . . robotic Wagner, and Sumner's week and weary vocal is such a stark contrast to the might of this track.

The bass driven, dark dance grooves on much of the album are great interpretations of Disco, which makes it sound the way Techno does when you're in a K-hole. The whole sound of this album is like being in a hole, a very deep hole. For those who love the constructive darkness of Joy Division, you won't like this album, it's honestly too dark and it lacks all the posing, posturing and rowdiness of Punk which Joy Division definitely had to it's sound. This is the beginning of the anonymous construction called New Order and the end of the Rock band, Joy Division.

Being a fan of both Joy Division and New Order as well as a lover of artists such as Kraftwerk, Gary Numan and Brian Eno I truly enjoy the electronic experimentation on this album. The analog synths shine dark here. This is definitely an electronic album.

That's right, this is not a Rock album. If anything, it's a dub album with electro beats and layered synths. The guitar is used as a wash of atmospheric sound or as a treble background to the bass toned synths. Only in two tracks are the lead and rhythm guitars used as the primary melodic device. Everything else is synth, bass, drum machine, drums and electronic noise.

This is a must have album, a record of torment and an important piece in the sound progression from the boys who brought you Warsaw, Joy Division and New Order.

From the ashes of Joy Division
K. O. , I can certainly understand the criticism of "Movement," New Order's first album. Most of the songs sound like they're remnants from Joy Division, and both Bernard Sumner and Peter Hook, sound like they're trying desperately to conjure up Ian Curtis vocals in the wake of his unfortunate suicide the year before (1980). Most of the songs have that kind of doom-and-gloom feel, with eerie lyrics, so typical of Joy Division (i. e. from "Denial": "Here I am in a house full of doors but no exits/ In a light that is grey like the stains on my windows"; from "Truth": "Oh it's a strange day/ in such a lonely way/ I saw some children dance/ I watched my life in a trance").

Although, perhaps, the band was still searching for its own voice, I still like New Order's "Movement" quite alot, as much, in fact, as any pre-"Republic" album. As other reviewers have noted, the first song "Dreams Never End," is the least representational song on the album, and foreshadows some of New Order's best work on future albums. Its main riff was also pretty much lifted by The Cure for the song "In Between Days. " (That's O. K. -- New Order, on later albums, borrowed from the Cure's "A Forest" and "Just Like Heaven," for its songs "Sunrise" and "All the Way").

The break-out dance song on "Movement," is, of course, "Chosen Time," which really should have been included on the "Substance" album. With its infectious bass and guitar riff, "Chosen Time" rates as one of New Order's greatest obscure classics. I also like the last three songs ("The Him," "Doubts Even Here," and "Denial") which, again, though clearly evocative of Joy Division, provide the true flavor of this album. One criticism: some of the songs include extraneous sounds that are merely unnecessary distractions to the melody. Overall though, I personally enjoy "Movement," as much as the band's follow-up, "Power, Corruption and Lies," to which I also awarded four stars. Of course, PC&L marked New Order's clear break from its haunted past.

You can see a complete list of all New Order discography, or go back to the New Order tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.