New Order

New Order frontman Bernard Sumner has strongly criticised the state of funding for mental health services in Britain, branding the neglect as “disgusting” and urging that it be addressed quickly.

With the band gearing up to promote a new Sky Arts documentary film about the band’s 40 years of work as both New Order and Joy Division, titled Decades and which airs later this week, Sumner reflected on the fate of Joy Division’s late singer, Ian Curtis, and spoke about what provisions there currently are in the UK for people with both mental health issues and epilepsy – from which Curtis struggled before his suicide in 1980.

“I'm not just talking about epilepsy but mental health issues for young people especially school kids it's criminally underfunded,” he told Sky News. “When the coalition government, after the banking crisis in 2008, formed they underfunded the NHS and they completely underfunded help for young people with mental issues.”

Continue reading: New Order's Bernard Sumner Rails Against Mental Health Services Underfunding

As the 2018 FIFA World Cup nears conclusion in Russia, football fans everywhere are going to be spending the summer either crying or cheering. Thus, we've put together the perfect playlist no matter whether you win or lose, because music is everything when it comes to victory. Or failure.

New Order performing live in 2016

WIN: Happy - Pharrell

Continue reading: Win Or Lose: The Ultimate World Cup Playlist

What is it?
Hong Kong's music scene isn't exactly world famous, but Clockenflap has been doing a solid job of putting it on the map for the past eight years and 2015 is no different. With the biggest artists to date and record breaking sales it's definitely growing on the international calendar as one to watch. It takes place between Friday the 27th and Sunday the 29th of November in the West Kowloon Cultural District.

Why it's great?
Other than the fact that you've got that movie scene skyline as a backdrop you mean? Okay then. Well, first of all shows in Hong Kong are polite, like organised circle pit polite. Second, it's not too big yet. Granted the site of Worthy Farm is as big as all of Hong Kong it was never going to be quite that big, but if Hong Kongers are good at anything then it's utilising space and not an inch is wasted here with art installations, stages and plenty more packed in. Third, there's no camping and as if that wasn't enough there's no mud either! Hell, it's probably at least a balmy 24 degrees outside. Did we mention you couldn't camp even if you really, really were looking forward to spending three days in piss wet through stinky tent with a snorer?

Continue reading: A Guide To Clockenflap 2015

Sam Smith’s ‘Writing’s On The Wall’ has become the first Bond theme to top the UK singles chart. The theme from the upcoming film Spectre, went straight in at number one in this week’s singles chart, with combined chart sales and streams of 70,000 copies, knocking Justin Bieber off the top spot.

Sam Smith is on top of the UK chart with ‘Writing’s On The Wall’

Speaking to the Official Charts Company Smith said, "It’s been an unforgettable experience working with Barbara [Broccoli] and Sam [Mendes] to become part of this British legacy. I couldn’t have done this without my fans – this is a special moment I’ll never forget.”

Continue reading: Sam Smith's 'Writing's On The Wall' Becomes First Bond Theme To Reach Number One

As well as announcing a short UK tour this autumn, the returning indie veterans New Order have revealed that their upcoming album will feature a number of guest stars from musical past and present.

Music Complete, their ninth studio album, will be coming out on September 25th, the band confirmed last month. On Tuesday (July 7th), however, they teased some more details about the album’s sound, and that it will contain appearances from Brandon Flowers, Iggy Pop and La Roux.

Iggy Pop is one of the guest stars who'll appear on the upcoming New Order album 'Music Complete'

Continue reading: New Order Album To Feature Guest Stars Including Brandon Flowers

Indie legends New Order have confirmed more details of their new album, their first in ten years, including its title and release date. Music Complete will be out on September 25th this year, available on Mute Records.

As well as being their first album of brand new material since 2005’s Waiting For The Sirens’ Call (2013’s Lost Sirens was an LP of offcuts from the same sessions), it is their first since the acrimonious departure of Peter Hook in 2007.

A teaser for Music Complete can be seen below, the clip of which contains the album’s artwork which has been supplied by Peter Saville, the original graphic designer for the band and their original record label Factory.

Continue reading: New Order Confirm Release Details Of First Album In Ten Years

They’re the band that simply refused to die. Surviving inter-band disputes and departures, the death of singer Ian Curtis and any amount of hiatuses, British post-punk survivors New Order have announced plans for their first album in ten years.

The news follows in the wake of a sold-out tour last summer, and lead singer Bernard Sumner told Rolling Stone: “The shows were being well-received and we were enjoying it. It seemed like the logical thing to do.” Two songs have already been completed, ‘Plastic’ and ‘Restless’, which were debuted during that tour.

New Order's lead singer Bernard Sumner spoke to Rolling Stone magazine

Continue reading: New Order Announces First Album In Ten Years

Peter Hook, the original bass player with Joy Division, has blasted New Order for setting up an official Twitter page for the legendary group without his input. Depressingly, the Joy Division page was set up to help flog the newly released Lyrics & Notebooks of late singer Ian Curtis and Hook was understandably incensed. 

Peter Hook is not happy

"@neworder Thanks for telling me.. As a member of @joydivision it would have been nice to have been informed" he said on Twitter.

Continue reading: Peter Hook Blasts New Order For Setting Up Joy Division Twitter