This past September, the British dance rock/new wave icons released their ninth record, Music Complete, their first in a decade. It's a stark, synth-focused album that hearkens back to the early days of the group when it was releasing groundbreaking singles such as “Blue Monday,” “Temptation,” and “Thieves Like Us.”
The new LP features guest vocals from Elly Jackson (better known as La Roux) I,
In unison with the announcement of the tour (and a subsequent set of European dates for the summer), New Order also launched a website that celebrates “The Influence Of New Order.” Titled “Singularity,” after the band's current single, the site features an extended mix of the song as well as a fan competition searching for the best artistic odes to the group, and a slew of celebrity declarations of adoration that go well beyond any “Bizarre Love Triangle.”
Just the way Kraftwerk set the wheels in motion for Joy Division and eventually New Order, after the death of the band's original lead singer, Ian Curtis, the seminal post-punk pioneers have influenced countless artists and musicians. Famous faces including Robert Smith of the Cure, Trainspotting and Filth author Irvine Welsh, Goldfrapp, Hot Chip, Interpol, Wild Beasts, and many more have all penned personal thank you letters to New Order in the form of artwork, essays, cover versions, and playlists.
Ambitious fans who wish to do the same can email their own creations to [email protected]. The five best contributions will be featured on the “Singularity” website permanently. The deadline to submit is March 11.
In the meantime, those of us in New York, Philly, Chicago, L.A., Las Vegas, and of course, Miami, can show our appreciation for New Order in person next month. Tickets for general admission will run $68.50 in advance and $70 day of
New Order. 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 23, at the Fillmore Miami Beach, 1700 Washington Ave., Miami Beach; 305-673-7300; fillmoremb.com. Tickets cost $65 to $90 plus fees via livenation.com.
