The new record will be their first since 2005, but will be recorded without founding member Peter Hook who left in 2007.
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
Speaking about the writing for the new album, Sumner continued “it's rainy and cold and wet outside. It's dark. It's a good time to write.” Drummer Stephen Morris added: “That explains a lot of the band's content, doesn't it? Bernard likes to be alone while writing – alone with his wine.”
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The new record, which will be released on long-standing independent label Mute, is as yet untitled but mooted to come out in the autumn, will be their first since 2005’s Waiting For The Siren’s Call, although an offcuts album from the same sessions entitled Lost Sirens was released in 2013.
Notably, it will be the first without bassist and founding member Peter Hook, who left the band amid mutual recriminations in 2007, although original keyboardist Gillian Gilbert will be returning for her first appearance on a New Order album since 1993’s Republic.
New Order rose out of the ashes of iconic post-punk group JOY DIVISION following the suicide of its lead singer Ian Curtis in 1980. Their 1983 classic ‘Blue Monday’ is still the biggest-selling 12” single of all time, and is often credited with helping to shape the direction and sound of club music.
More: Peter Hook blasts New Order for setting up a Joy Division Twitter account