Having just completed a widely acclaimed world tour performing both “Substance” albums of Joy Division and New Order across North and South America. This new “Technique” and “Republic” concerts mark the band moving forward through the catalogue once more.
As has become their custom, all dates feature The Light performing an opening set of Joy Division material.
Peter Hook & The Light @ Albert Hall
Saturday 29th September at 7pm
“Technique”, New Order’s fifth studio album chronicles the impact of acid house on the band, marking the clearest statement of the rock and dance influences which were shaping their output. Released in January 1989, just after the bands infamous G-Mex gig and aftershow downstairs at The Hacienda in December the previous year, it became New Order’s first album to go to number one in the UK. It was also hugely successful in the United States where the influence of Quincy Jones’ Qwest label regularly got the band’s singles to the top of the American dance charts.
Due to the well documented history surrounding “Republic”, it is remarkably difficult to characterise it as sharing the same sunny outlook as “Technique” but Hooky’s decision to include it in these concerts underline his commitment to perform all of his catalogue that he has committed to record.
Not that “Republic” wasn’t hugely successful. Again it went to number one in the UK and became the band’s biggest ever selling album in America, narrowly missing the Billboard album chart top ten peaking at number 11.
However it is not unknown that it was New Order’s most difficult album to make. Factory Records had hit financial trouble and needed a New Order album to bail themselves out so the band were coerced into recording the album in to save Factory. Something that didn’t entirely work out as Factory was then to go bankrupt in November 1992 and New Order then signed to London Records, an offshoot of Warner Bros with “Republic” released in May 1993.
Albert Hall, 27 Peter St, City Centre, Manchester M2 5QR
www.alberthallmanchester.com/
