New Order are a band that have consistently confounded our expectations. Now, when anyone might have reasonably thought them finished in the light of a potentially damaging fall out with Peter Hook, the band return. At first when listening to Music Complete the overriding emotion is one of relief – that they haven’t delivered anything substandard. Before long that feeling changes to one of respect when the realisation comes that the band, far from treading water, still have lots to say. Bernard Sumner remains the earnest presence at the front of the mix, but when he is joined by Gillian Gilbert the impact of the songs is raised. The comeback single Restless is classy, while ‘Academic’ is majestic and ‘Unlearn This Hatred’, one of two songs written with Chemical Brother Tom Rowlands, surges through to its powerful chorus. There are elements of the band’s ‘Republic’ and ‘Technique’ albums here, but the style has subtly progressed – without completely ruling out cheesier interludes such as the highly enjoyable ‘Tutti Frutti’ – where Gilbert again excels – or ‘Stray Dog’, where Iggy Pop adds some welcome roughness. This is some of the band’s very best work in 25-odd years, the start of a brave but joyous new chapter for New Order.
5 out of 5
Reviewed by Ben Hogwood
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