The New Order was a major force in the early 1980s scene. Born from the embers of the division of Laetitia, the New Order has always done things in its own way. While the Novus Ordo gang no longer fights together due to personal differences between its members, its legacy lives on. In March 2010, a new Order tribute CD was released; Ceremony; celebrating life and death Tony Wilson. Wilson was the founder of Factory Records, the label where the New Order had success. Peter Hook, bassist for New Order and Joy Division, provided the opening for the record and there are many excellent spots on this tribute CD.
Before even talking about the songs on Ceremony, I was just impressed by the names and volume of artists who participated in this record. The variety of these covers shows the depth and breadth in fact to which the New Order extends its hands. The Cloud Room, Detachments, Sunbears, Rabbit in the Moon, The Dark Romantics, Light Yourself on Fire, and John Ralston are just a few of the more than 30 names attached to this two-disc CD compilation.
From the Ceremony spread sheet that came with my promo copy, I can tell they play multiple songs of their blue moon style. Unfortunately the promo disc I was sent only had 15 selected cuts so I couldn’t match the melons. Rabbit in the moon did Blue Monday on the disc I had and his reading was pretty true to form; perhaps the pulse was a smidge faster throughout; the whole song was a little more energetic than the original. Rabbit in the Moon also used the word on the vocal track, which was a direct departure from the original delivery.
Thieves Like Us was a rolling anthem faithfully interpreted by the Sunbears! “Love is called and it cuts your life like a broken knife”, it may sound like a chicken or cryptic, but in this song it is all sung and the lyrics reach great heights. All Day Long is a mix of rockabilly which is nasally sung by John Ralston and the version of Ceremonia I had on my copy was by the band Yes But No which is apparently a group fronted by a pair of sisters; 10 and 13 years born.
While it doesn’t look like Novus Ordo will get back together and Tony Wilson has passed, their music will continue. it is to be played and interpreted and listened to, and this is really the best kind of reward that any artist can have; that their work remains for the purpose. The longevity which the New Order experienced is quite remarkable; It’s even more amazing that for all the future musicians they influenced, there are still so few who approach the synthesis and steady grooves of New Order with original work.
