New Order

Tracks:

ARTHUR BAKER, legendary producer, has revealed the full tracklisting of his bizarre concept album featuring members of ASH, NEW ORDER, MOGWAI, PRIMAL SCREAM and jazz saxophonist PHAROAH SANDERS.

Three years in the making, Baker's recently finished making the double album and hopes to get it released sometime next year. It's possible that a track called 'Glow', featuring Ash's Tim Wheeler and Mogwai's Stuart Braithwaite, could be released a single after Baker described the track as "an undeniable hit".

Dance-music foundation quartet New Order are currently in the studio, recording their first album
since 1993's Republic, according to Pete Tong, founder of their UK label, f.f.r.r. Steve Osborne,
who has worked with Paul Oakenfold and U2, is producing the album, the band's seventh, which will
likely be released next spring. "They'll come back and be really relevant and contemporary and surprise
a few people and not disappoint Joy Division or New Order fans," Tong said. New Order, formed in 1980 in Manchester, England, after Joy Division singer Ian Curtis committed suicide, released several international club hits in the '80s, including "Blue Monday" and "Bizarre Love Triangle." The group's most recent track, "Brutal" , was included on the soundtrack to "The Beach." ...

Tracks:

1.Truth 2.Senses 3.I.C.B. 4.Dreams Never End 5.Turn The Heater On 6.We All Stand 7.Too Late 8.5-8-6.

British actor/comedian STEVE COOGAN is in talks with film producers to play FACTORY RECORDS and HAÇIENDA boss TONY WILSON, nme.com can reveal.

Coogan is the favorite to play Wilson in '24 Hour Party People', a British film documenting Factory Records, the Haçienda and the subsequent 'Madchester' era. It will be directed by Michael Winterbottom, whose previous credits include 'Welcome To Sarajevo' and 'Jude', and scripted by seasoned Northern writer Frank Cottrell-Boyce.

Sources on the project have told nme.com that the film will cover the period between 1976-92, taking the 1976 Sex Pistols gig at the Free Trade Hall as the catalyst for Wilson and his activities. The focus will be on Wilson himself, with bands such as New Order and Happy Mondays depicted, although not as pivotal characters.

Filming is expected to start in January, with a release date no earlier than autumn 2001.

BUZZCOCKS frontman PETE SHELLEY, 10CC's KEVIN GODLEY and a host of MANCHESTER pop figures take part in a new documentary focusing on 25 years of the city's rock history.

The five-part series, 'Cover Story', looks at the history of the Manchester rock scene as told through the record sleeves, flyers and t-shirts of some of the region's most influential bands, and how the designs reflected the wider musical, cultural and social influences.

Other artists who will be featured include New Order, Happy Mondays and Liverpudlian groups The Farm and Space. The series includes interviews with music journalists Jon Savage and Paul Morley, as well as Factory Records and Hacienda club guru Anthony Wilson.

Also available on their site the full promotional video for "I've Got A Feeling" despite the fact that the single has been pulled from UK due to sample clearance problem.

New Order will enter a studio in the South of England in 2 weeks for a 6 weeks stint in the a professional studio. That session should see the 7 "completed" tracks re-recorded.

New Order Trudges On; Album Nearing Completion

New Order has completed seven tracks on its long-awaited follow-up to 1993's Republic, according to a source close to the band.

The band has titled two tracks, "60mph" and "Crystal", both of which are being handled by different mixers. "60mph" is being put through the ringer by David Kahne (Sugar Ray, Bangles), and Mark Stent, who most recently produced Oasis' Standing on the Shoulder of Giants, was behind the controls for "Crystal." Steve Osbourne is producing both tracks (Happy Mondays, Curve).

There is still no release date scheduled for the as-yet-untitled album, as Qwest/Warner Bros. is still eagerly awaiting the final product. New Order is expected to collaborate with both the Chemical Brothers and Moby on the disc, but neither are set in stone at press time.

The full track listing:

As a member of Joy Division and New Order – two of the most important bands in British rock history- Peter Hook has been the purveyor of one of the most unique bass sounds and playing styles for the past twenty years.

So respect to the bear-sized man hunched nonchalantly over his instrument tonight, his knuckles typically nearly scraping the floor as he plucks out those melodic, melancholy, so familiar basslines.

But as the Peter Hook Appreciation Society gather at the foot of stage in their New Order T-shirts and take photos, spare a thought for David Potts, singer/guitarist and the other half of the Monaco songwriting partnership.

Hooky and Pottsy

This is the man who, rumour has it, was offered a place in Oasis when Bonehead left. A fine singer in the Bernard Sumner tradition, his contribution to Monaco is somewhat overshadowed by the man with the silver cropped hair and the history. Not that he seems to mind tonight. He seems used to seeing his mate bathed in the limelight.

Monaco -though often dismissed as New Order-lite, or something to keep Hooky amused in between his proper band's albums- have a fine line in driving, sunny pop songs. And while they'll never achieve success of New Orderly proportions, there's enough here to keep the discerning pop fan amused.

The sound is a little fuzzy and the band's performance is jaggedly shambolic, losing the subtleties of good production as they dip into new album 'Monaco' and 1997's 'Music For Pleasure'. And every now and then you get the feeling that motions are defintely being gone through.

Whether he's had a bit too much to drink or whether he always sings like that, Hooky's voice is a gruff, tuneless mumble when he takes over the microphone for the like of 'What Do You Want From Me' an otherwise fine song. But when Pottsy takes charge of the vocals, things sound more like they should. The beautiful 'Shine', 'A Life Apart' and 'I've Got A Feeling' are all highlights tonight.

Ultimately though, no matter how good the gig, you get the feeling that a collective curiosity has been satisfied tonight. People came to see that bloke out of New Order up close and personal. Wonder if they noticed the other geezer too.

MONACO INTERVIEW (PETER HOOK  DAVID POTTS) - AUGUST 21, 2000

PETER HOOK, the iconic Manc rock figure responsible for the trademark strafing bass runs all over New Order's best work, is again thrusting his low-slung bottom-end at us in the form of the shiny new second MONACO album.

Hooky has again enlisted his former Revenge and Monaco partner - the angel-voiced David Potts - on vocals. 'Monaco', on the new Papillon label is the result, a moody affair that mixes lush house with more dark and brooding soundscapes. The band's career high to date has been 1997's infectiously catchy UK Top 10 single 'What Do You Want From Me?' off the UK Top Ten 'Music For Pleasure' (Polydor) album which sold a very useful 500,000 copies thank you very much.

And the news is out that New Order are recording a new album  but for now revel in the sonic playground that is Monaco as Music365 brings you the wisdom of Hooky and Pottsy.

This new album's the first on your new label. What happened with Polydor? Were you dropped or did you drop them? Wasn't it weird to be on them anyway as stalwarts of the indie scene?
PH: Not really because we were in pretty good company: Cast, Gene, Ian Brown. The guy who was in charge of the indie section had himself quite a good roster. He lost them all one by one and then because Polydor decided to go commercial.
RH: You were label-less for quite a while then?
PH: Sort of jilted at the altar. We went down to London and finished the record and then it just got rejected which was a bit heart-breaking because we thought it were a good record. The label that we're on now Papillon is more independent. It's much more small, cottagey.

Have you met label-mate Cliff Richard yet?
PH: No. Looking forward to it though. In fact I'm doing a duet with him for Christmas.
RH: That'll be the Christmas number one?
PH: In Botswana probably.

Is there a new Manchester scene with Badly Drawn Boy and Doves. Is it just like 1990 all over again?
PH: Well I've not heard Badly Drawn Boy but I have met him and he looks like he needs a good wash. I always admire uncleanliness in a man. I've known the Doves for years and I do like that album: cross between Pink Floyd and Grateful Dead which quite appeals to me.
DP: You can hear the Smiths in there and New Order in there.
PH: Hopefully yeah. It'd be wonderful for it to start up again. Music's gone through a very doldrum, very Barbie type period. Everyone being all pretty and "we're all having such a great time." How can Steps have a great time all the time? Don't they ever get pissed off? Wouldn't you really love to come in one day and say "yeah I'm really pissed off today. them kids are gettin' on my tits."

What kind of stuff are you listening to at the moment though?
PH: Mostly dance but the funny thing is we've just moved house. I just got all me records out and was playing records. I tell you they sound miles better than CDs, apart from scratches.
DP: Tim Harding, I've been listening to a lot. France Gall.

This new album, apart from a couple of footstomping floorfillers sounds quite mellow. Is that a new direction?
PH: I think it's quite relaxed and confident. It's not punky. To my mind it's quite smooth.
DP: It depends what other influences are around at the time that you incorporate.

Mainman Hook Returns With Monaco

LATELY, Manchester's biggest record label scare story has been the plight of Elbow - thankfully now risen again. But as one Peter Hook has found out, even near legend status cannot shield you from the perils of big business restructuring.

After a decently successful first album and widespread critical acclaim, Monaco, the outfit he formed with singing sidekick David Potts were unceremoniously binned when their label decided upon a change of direction. On the same day that the man who turned the bass guitar into a weapon found himself professionally homeless, the very same company signed Adam Rickitt.

''It was quite interesting. Well it wasn't at the time because it was heart-rending. We delivered the record and we just didn't hear anything back for ages. We were trying to get it out for summer and it was just really weird, it was like your girlfriend doesn't phone you so you think something's wrong. And then you find out she's going out with Adam Rickitt!''

''England has a very strange attitude towards my solo projects, whether they're all crap or not I don't know. They look at you strangely, and they did it with Bernard (Sumner) for doing Electronic, they don't particularly seem to like it. The thing was we'd gone round the world and done really well. I couldn't understand why Polydor would dump you when you're doing well around the world. They didn't even care.''

The upshot was that Monaco got out with an album complete, lay low, and are now back on a good old-fashioned indie called Papillon.

''Polydor were so big, you didn't particularly have to struggle because you had such a huge machine behind you. I think it does cosset you a little bit. Now, you have to work and push your music. It's nice to get your soul back.''

With soul restored, if a year later than planned, Monaco are poised to return with new single, I've Got A Feeling. A typically fine record, if one that's sure to tempt the same standard criticisms as last time. But no record featuring the trademark Hooky bass could sound like anything other than New Order. The eponymous album casts the net even wider, taking in ambient, rock, even disco influences into the same blueprint.

If he didn't quite write the book on Rock'n'Roll, then Peter Hook, through Joy Division, New Order and unfortunate tabloid attention, at least deserves several footnotes. And as such, the ''hiccup'' he describes hurts because it's indicative of something wider.

''Don't set me off now,'' he sighs. ''I think we're due Johnny Rotten's offspring myself because whether I'm missing something in this world, the bands that are really big today, like your Steps, they don't mean much to me in my world.

''I like what rock'n'roll stands for, and they don't seem very rock'n'roll to me. They're robbing our children of rock'n'roll! Your drug addled lead singers and all that, that's what rock'n'roll's about, not Steps. They look like you could eat your dinner off them.'' He grins, ''If you're very lucky.''

Things are looking up. As if the record wasn't enough, Pottsy is due to get married the following day, and Hooky has the small matter of a reformed New Order to think about.

''It's absolutely fine, it's the first time in 20 years we've actually got on. The space made you appreciate what you each of you did at lot more, and it's nice to have that luxury of your past successes.''

Both of them, given the chance to continue their odd couple musical doubles, seem happy to do things their own way.

''It's quite strange though,'' muses Hooky, considering his current band's fortunes. ''When we came up with Revenge, we were supported by Oasis, and they went onto be massive and Revenge folded, and then when we started Monaco we were supported by Travis on our first gig! Not saying that Monaco's disappeared by any means.''

But you know what he's getting at. ''They've found us another band. They want us to play with Alfie, who I don't know but they're gonna be the next big thing cause they're playing with us! I'm putting a tenner on them.''

Monaco, swanky principality on the Mediterranean and home of the rich and famous, but is there any substance behind all the glitz and glamour? You can see where this is heading... Monaco, the album, has a promising opening, waves of noise and crashing drums before that bass thunders in, Peter Hook driving ‘I’ve Got A Feeling’ along like a lost New Order song. Sadly, once that track is over the band start plunging and plundering the depths.

‘A Life Apart’ features one of the bummest guitar notes in recorded history before that bass line returns and, despite throwing every instrument lifeline at the song, it’s a goner. Every track starts and ends with gratuitous production tweaks as if to suggest it’s in the name of art, but the album just flails around, wallowing in flat vocals and whirlpool keyboards, while borrowed themes mean you end up listening for other records while this one plays. Is that ‘White Horses’ amid ‘Bert’s Theme’? Isn’t ‘See-Saw’ just Right Said Fred? And how did ‘Black Rain’ creep in when it’s a pretty decent tune?

Nothing can prepare you for ‘End Of The World’, though, changing a word and a line from John Lennon's ‘Jealous Guy’ at the start, the song then gives hope to any budding guitarists by having the worst solo ever, yes, you can do better. The finale, ‘Marine’, features ocean sounds as the instruments rise from it before sinking again, just like this album in fact.

Did you know…
- Monaco is Peter Hook’s third non-New Order project of the 1990s, sandwiched between Revenge and Warsaw – he also played bass on Durutti Column’s 1995 ‘Sex & Death’ album
- Co-collaborator David Potts was wanted by Noel Gallagher in 1999 to replace Bonehead in Oasis.
- Potts used to be a tape operator in Hook's studio.

Review new album "Monaco" by Sarah Dempster from NME:

Just when we thought we were out, they pull us back in. Cpt Peter Hook - dogged bass renegade, part-time New Orderly and stubblesome leader of the indie-pop resistance - was never one for easy surrender. A lesser man would've crumbled under the weight of appalling circumstance that has plagued his 'pet' project Monaco. The sniffy reviews, the threat of mutiny (his singing/strumming foil David Potts auditioned for a role in the post-Guigsy Oasis) and the ultimate humiliation of being dropped by his record label never exactly bade well for the long-term.

Yet against all odds, here they are again, brandishing the weapons of indignation and clinging like lichen to that stratum forever marked 'indie lite'. But things have changed round Monaco's way. Where their 1997 debut 'Music For Pleasure' reveled in its post-Britpop earnestness, 'Monaco' is simply an album of and about Pop. And, disengaged from the suffocatingly self-conscious 'indie' supply that rendered 'Music...' so trying, it's a truly lovely thing to behold; a pretence-free, summery shimmy through pop's enchanted garden, with tear-tugging Bacharachy bits and choruses of angels and everything.

The full track listing:

It sounds like it's being broadcast from Alexandra Palace in the early days of the crystal set. The "rare interview material" trumpeted by 'The Complete BBC Recordings' - Richard Skinner jovially quizzing two young men from Manchester about what they think of Gary Numan's claim that "machine rock" is the future - is perhaps, the only way in which this record might raise a smile. "No disrespect to Gary Numan", they say, their true feelings clear, "but what we do is what we do."

There's no need for justification now. Recorded 21 years ago, these brief broadcast tapes have taken on the dark glow of relics, tokens of a band who hover darkly on the skyline wherever you stand. This is Turin Shroud-style ephemera, a spot of apocrypha for the bible fanatic: a tape-snippet of Ian Curtis and Stephen Morris, two Peel sessions, a previously unreleased television recording from Something Else and that's the "complete" BBC archive.

For a band of such looming status, it's valuable witness-bearing, parallel-universe versions of textbook history. Perhaps most compelling are the compare-and-contrast versions of 'Transmission' and 'She's Lost Control': the first set, recorded for John Peel in January 1979, laden with buckling tension and incipient panic; the second, taken from Something Else - where Curtis' dancing brought angry phone calls from viewers claiming he was "on drugs" - something of a culmination, a febrile sprint through the misery, a sudden chaotic yelp. Alternate versions of the monumental 'Exercise One' and 'Sound Of Music' add to the most obvious canon, while elsewhere, superb takes on 'Love Will Tear Us Apart', 'Colony' and '24 Hours' are instant shots of unflinching chill and cruel clear-sightedness.

History on its shoulders, this ephemera weighs heavy indeed.

JOY DIVISION "The Complete Radio 1 Recordings" was finally released August 7 in UK.

The full track listing for the album is:

• 'Exercise One' (Recorded for the John Peel Show 31 Jan 79)
• 'Insight' (Recorded for the John Peel Show 31 Jan 79)
• 'She's Lost Control' (Recorded for the John Peel Show 31 Jan 79)
• 'Transmission' (Recorded for the John Peel Show 31 Jan 79)
• 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' (Recorded for the John Peel Show 26 Nov 79)
• '24 Hours' (Recorded for the John Peel Show 26 Nov 79)
• 'Colony' (Recorded for the John Peel Show 26 Nov 79)
• 'Sound Of Music' (Recorded for the John Peel Show 26 Nov 79)
• Transmission' (Recorded live for Something Else 4 Sept 79)
• 'She's Lost Control' (Recorded live for Something Else 4 Sept 79)
• Ian Curtis & Steven Morris interviewed by Richard Skinner ( Recorded for Radio One in 79)

Steven Dalton (NME): 

Expanding the brand - that's what wanky marketing men and New Labour strategists call it. Sticking the imprint of a successful venture onto other products in the hope of its 'personality' rubbing off and hoodwinking loyal customers. It's a notion which, alas, doesn't always work. Look at Virgin Trains. Or a decade of underachieving New Order side projects.

Monaco probably have more New Order DNA in them than other spin-off bands - Peter Hook's bass sound, after all, is New Order - but this thinly attended reception in Amsterdam speaks volumes about the unique chemistry of great bands, and the grudging affection afforded their bastard offspring. The atmosphere is lukewarm. Fortunately, Captain Hook has brought his own, and he fully intends to rock.

It's more of a Hooky show this time around. David Potts shares the workload, but it's very much a father-and-son deal, with the walrus-voiced Ollie Reed of disco-metal in charge - dispensing deadpan insults and wielding his mighty bass like a ceremonial sword. The bulk of this set features gruff Hookster vocals, from brooding oldie 'Tender' to brooding newie 'A Life Apart', and from anthemic, club-friendly oldie 'What Do You Want From Me' to anthemic, club-friendly newie 'Seesaw'. The latter is Monaco's largely successful attempt to make euphoric trance sound grimy and lascivious, and features the killer punch line, "Put a smile back on my face/All back to my place".

Pottsy has the smoother pop voice which he demonstrates on sweet new guitar gushers like 'Kashmere' and 'I've Got A Feeling'. But his uncanny pastiche of Bernard Sumner's vocal style does both singers a disservice. Pottsy has the edge in technical competence, but his listless croon lacks Barney's prickly passion.

It's perhaps why Monaco are most themselves when Old Man Hook weighs in with his Gruffo The Sheepdog growls, as on melodic bruiser 'It's A Boy' - essentially New Order's 'Run' sung by Manchester's answer to Johnny Cash.

The Monaco brand will probably always be perceived as the EasyJet to New Order's Virgin Atlantic, but partly because Hook is a victim of his own success. Yet regardless of lineage or limitations, at the heart of Monaco lies an unquenchable exuberance which transcends critical sniping. Hooky doesn't need this aggravation, after all. He's clearly getting off on Monaco big time, but you're invited along for the ride. Because it's hard, in the end, to resent a veteran disco-metal monster's boyish enthusiasm. Long may his brand expand.

MONACO new album was finally released this Monday ( August 21 ) in UK.

It was a short one, less than one hour. Not to much public (about 200 people). 10 songs played, 3 old ones, 7 new ones. 1 drummer, 1 keyboard, 2 guitarists (one is Pottsy) and Hooky on his bass. No merchandising at all. Hooky was at his ironic best and joking to the crowd, although probably only lads from Salford really "got" his humor. Hooky was singing a lot and Pottsy sounds more like Oasis than Barney. Some of the hardware (flight cases and so) were marked with "New Order".

Monaco will play also Manchester University (August 29) and London Scala Kings Cross (August 31).

"I've Got A Feeling" has been pulled from release by Papillon Records after sample clearance could not be obtained in time for a loop used on one of it's b-sides, "Heaven Seven".

Reports from Ally

"I've Got A Feeling" has been pulled from release by Papillon Records. The single was originally supposed to be released July 31st; then got pushed back to August 7 but now it appears they've decided not to release it at all. "See-saw" will probably replace "I've Got A Feeling" as the first single and may possibly follow "See-saw" as the second single. Very sketchy release date for the "See-saw" single is 6 weeks at the earliest and it'll include a fair few remixes.

New York - KOCH Records, a division of KOCH Entertainment, is releasing the Johnny Marr and Bernard Sumner collaboration, Electronics' Twisted Tenderness on September 12^th in North America. The album was released to massive critical acclaim in England last year, but has been unavailable to the hundreds of thousands of stateside Electronic fans until now.  This deluxe edition includes three bonus tracks.

KOCH President, Bob Frank decided to pick up the album because "this is a beautiful collection of songs by two gents from two legendary bands.  The music needs to be available for the bands fans.  It's an honor to be able to work with these guys."

"It's got an energy about it," Johnny Marr says, "which is something you can't really design.  You can strategize as much as you like, but unless what you do has got the x factor - the moments that make you go 'yes!' even as they first come to you - there's no way you can expect it to have that effect on anyone else." Twisted Tenderness, the third album by Marr and Bernard Sumner as Electronic, is a record that's going to make a lot of people go 'yes!' 

Formed in 1989 in Manchester, England, Electronic was one of the first supergroups from post-punk Great Britain. The group is the on-off project formed by New Order's Bernard Sumner and Johnny Marr, former guitarist of the Smiths. The duo released "Getting Away with It" in December 1989, with both Sumner and Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys on vocals. The single just missed the Top Ten in England, but was the end of Electronic for over two years; Sumner and Tennant returned to their respective groups while Marr played on albums by The The and Billy Bragg. Electronic's sophomore single "Get the Message" finally appeared in April 1991, and an eponymous debut album followed in June. The non-album single "Disappointed" was released just over a year later. Sumner then returned to New Order to record their sixth album Republic, while Marr returned to his sideman role with The The and The Pretenders. The duo reunited to record again -- this time with help from former Kraftwerk member Karl Bartos -- and released Raise the Pressure in July 1996.

After a busy few years, that found Sumner guessing on the Chemical Brothers' Surrender and recording a new New Order song for The Beach soundtrack and Marr working on his own new band The Healers as well as his solo work, the two got busy on Twisted Tenderness.

Nearly a year and a half after its release in the U.K., Electronic has finally lined up a Stateside release for its third album, Twisted Tenderness, on Sept. 12 on Koch Records.

Electronic, consisting of New Order singer Bernard Sumner and ex-Smiths/current Healer guitarist/vocalist Johnny Marr, previously saw its first two albums (1991's Electronic and 1996's Raise the Pressure) released on Warner Brothers.

This picture represent the packaging for the Special edition limited to 2000-only in a lavish tin package. Disc 1 is the standard music CD, Disc 2 is a CD Rom of the same concert.

MONACO, the side project of NEW ORDER bassist PETER HOOK, are to play three live shows around the release of a new single and album.

The duo, also featuring David Potts, the man who was courted last year by Oasis as replacement bassist for the departed Guigsy, will play Amsterdam, Manchester and London during August.

As revealed recently by nme.com, Monaco have just signed a new record deal with independent Papillon Records, having been dropped by Polydor records. Their nine-track album was recorded during the final months with Polydor, allowing it to be released so soon after signing the deal.

Hook told nme.com last month that being dropped so close to the album release felt a little "like being jilted at the altar" but that he now has "got confidence in the record and I’m very happy with it and very proud of it".

Monaco will play Amsterdam Milky Way (August 9), Manchester Ampersand (August 29) and London Scala (August 31).

They will release new single 'I've Got A Feeling' on July 31 and the album 'Monaco' on August 21.

Two previously unreleased JOY DIVISION songs are to be released on a new compilation of BBC radio recordings.

The tracks, new versions of 'Transmission' and 'She’s Lost Control' feature on the album 'Joy Division - The Complete Radio 1 Recordings', which is released on July 31 through Strange Fruit. The two songs were both recorded for the 'Something Else' radio show in 1979.

Also featured on the album are the band’s only two John Peel sessions and a rare interview between radio DJ Richard Skinner, Joy Division vocalist Ian Curtis and drummer Stephen Morris.

The full track listing for the album is:

• 'Exercise One'
• 'Insight'
• 'She's Lost Control'
• 'Transmission'
• 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'
• '24 Hours'
• 'Colony'
• 'Sound Of Music'
• Transmission' (new version)
• 'She's Lost Control' (new version)

7" BTFLY0005 : 1.I've Got A Feeling (Radio Edit) 2.Heaven 7 (Exclusive Track).

CDS BTFLY0005 Part 1 Tracks: 1.I've Got A Feeling (Radio Edit) 2.Barfly (Exclusive Track) 3.I've Got A Feeling (Instrumental Mix).

CDS BTFLYX0005 Part 2 Tracks: 1.I've Got A Feeling 2.Heaven 7 (Exclusive Track) 3.I've Got A Feeling (CD-ROM Video).

Tracks Listing:

1. Make It Happen 2. Haze 3. Vivid 4. Breakdown 5. Can't Find My Way Home 6. Twisted Tenderness 7. Like No Other 8. Late At Night 9. Prodigal Son 10. When She's Gone 11. Flicker 12. King For A Day - (bonus track) 13. Warning Sign - (bonus track) 14. Make It Happen - (Darren Price mix, bonus track).

Monaco is set to sign new deals with Papillon Records.

Monaco frontman Peter Hook told nme.com: "We obviously had a bit of a setback being dropped by Polydor but seeing as they signed Adam Rickitt (the ex-Coronation Street star) after us I think we got our own back really. So bollocks to them.

"It was a bit like being jilted at the altar because we’d finished the LP and we were waiting for them to bring it out when we parted. It was a bit of a blow and it took us quite a few months for us to get over that, Pottsy and I, but I’ve got confidence in the record and I’m very happy with it and very proud of it."

The new Monaco album, titled ‘Monaco’ will now be released on August 7, with a single ‘I’ve Got A Feeling’ to come out on July 24.

The tracklisting for the album is ‘I’ve Got A Feeling’, ‘Kashmere’, ‘A Life Apart’, ‘Burt’s Theme’, ‘Careful What You Wish For’, ‘End Of The World’, ‘Marine’, ‘It’s A Boy’ and ‘Black Rain’.

Last year, Monaco nearly lost guitarist David Potts to Oasis, who were considering him for the post of bass player.

Hooky said: "He came to his senses the lad. Oasis have proved that it wouldn’t have been a long-lived gig anyway. I think he’s got enough confidence in Monaco and he’s got his own stuff while I’m pissing about with New Order."

Complete Radio 1 Recordings: Two complete 1979 Peel Session recordings, along with previously unreleased versions of "Transmission" and "She's Lost Control" recorded for "Something Else". Also featured is a rare interview of Ian Curtis and Stephen Morris. It is expected to be release July 31st, 2000 on CD.

Monaco's second album "Be Careful What You Wish For" is finished, and awaiting release. The band are rumored to be signing a deal with Chrysalis Records here in the UK for international release. Album track listing as follows: 

I've Got A Feeling / A Life Apart / Something Beautiful / Kashmere / Ennio / See Saw / Barfly / Ballroom / Black Rain / End of the World / Marine (instrumental) / 7th Heaven.

"We are doing "Les Bains Douches" if we find a good version of the gig; always seems to be some strange French woman who has a good copy but no-one can find her. The CD-Rom is more of a CDplus.. who knows, but there are visuals to go on it from the gig. 

Before that, we are bringing out some limited edition stuff shortly; a couple of "spoken word??" pieces called Pornucopia and The Pleasures of Cunt."

This Classic live recording from December 18, 1979 comes also as Special edition limited to 2000-only in a lavish tin package. Disc 1 is the standard music CD, Disc 2 is a CD Rom of the same concert.

IAN CURTIS 1956 - 1980

 

Ian Curtis - Gone but not forgotten

It was 20 years ago today that IAN CURTIS ended his life, aged 23.

The driving force behind Joy Division's dark vision, he hanged himself in his Macclesfield home as the band rested between a European and American tour. Iggy Pop's 'The Idiot' was found on his turntable alongside a note which read "at this very moment, I wish I were dead. I just can't cope anymore".

Curtis joined Joy Division in 1976, after answering a "seeking singer" ad that guitarist Bernard Albrecht (latterly Sumner) and bassist Peter Hook had placed in the window of Virgin Records in Manchester. When Stephen Morris joined on drums in August 1977, the band proper was born. They began rehearsing in earnest and touring what would become a trademark bleak, expressive sound. Their live shows caught the ear of semi-legendary Manchester names DJ Rob Gretton and journalist and Factory Records boss Tony Wilson. In May 1978 they went into the studio to record what was planned as their first, self-titled, album. When an engineer decided to overdub synthesizers, the band scrapped the LP.

It wasn't until 1979 with the recording of a session for BBC Radio One's John Peel and the July release of 'Unknown Pleasures' through Factory Records, that Joy Division's dark star began to rise.

However, as their career took off, Curtis‘ own health began to suffer. An epileptic, he frequently took fits while on stage. As the band's touring schedule increased so did the intensity of the seizures, and it often became difficult to tell the difference between them and his usual onstage jerkiness. Curtis is also believed to have become depressed at what he saw as an audience who were more keen to watch him break down than to listen to Joy Division.

Following a short break during Christmas 1979, Joy Division set off on a brief European tour, heading back to the studio in early February to work on the follow-up to 'Unknown Pleasures'.

They released 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' in April, and with momentum building in the US they were due to take off for their first ever tour of the States.

They never went. Curtis hanged himself in his kitchen two days before the flight. It was not his first suicide attempt.

Ironically, Joy Division went on to have their most commercially successful period. Their album 'Closer' peaked at Number 6 in the UK after its August release (the artwork, chosen before Curtis' death, eerily depicts a shrouded body in a tomb) and 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' hit number 13 on its re-release.

Joy Division ceased to be - they had always said they would draw a line beneath the band if any member left. The three remaining members regrouped as New Order during early 1981 (Morris’ girlfriend Gillian Gilbert joined on keyboards) and continue to enjoy commercial success and critical acclaim.

Since Curtis‘ death there have a number of Joy Division releases, including 1988's 'Substance' and 1999's 'Preston Warehouse 28 February 1980' In 1998, a box set, containing both previously recorded and live material, was released.

In order to decently celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Ian Curtis' death ( May 18, 1980), a club in Geneva (Switzerland) called L'Usine (which means by the way "The Factory") is organizing a homage party dedicated to Joy Division. The event will take place on Saturday MAY 20, 2000.

The evening is divided in three parts: 

CONCERTS: Swiss bands covering Joy Division songs (Mothers Monsters, ExNova, Artmode, Sweet Disease, Last Torridas, Osmosis, Ice-9, Genes of perfection, Mot Compte Triple, Greenslime).

PROJECTIONS/SLIDES: films, documentaries.

DISCO NEW WAVE: DJ Christian, DJ Antz (Sanctuary).

Follow this link for more info (In French) www.ptrnet.ch/programe.html

The play is about Ian Curtis right before he commits suicide and his time spent in purgatory where an angel is trying to get him into heaven. The problem is that he doesn't want to go, he prefers pain and suffering. It is written by SPIN magazine journalist Marc Spitz. It opens May 3rd at a theatre called New York Performance works at 10:00 PM. The theatre is located at 128 Chambers St. at W. Broadway. The tickets are only $20. It only runs through May 28th. The reservation line is 212.726.8154.

MuchMusic

New Order Live at Reading Festival 60min
A sell-out crowd of 50,000 fans gathered to witness legendary band New Order at the Reading Festival. The band plays a barnstorming live set of their hits including Regret, World In Motion, Blue Monday and others. (first aired Sep. 11/99)

New Order will be releasing an official live album sometime this year. The album will contain the complete Reading 98 performance and should be released through London Records hopefully this summer. A track from the album will appear on a Manchester-artist Kosovar charity record titled "Cohesion", that track will be "Atmosphere" as mentioned before. The new Monaco album has 12 tracks, first single to be "I've Got A Feeling". Another track from the album "Ballroom", will also be featured on the Kosovar record. Incidentally the new Monaco LP is called "Be Careful What You Wish For".

A new charity record provisionally titled "Cohesion" is set to be released sometime in the summer on a newly set-up Manchester label called "Collectiv Records". Hooky is rumored to be a major shareholder in this new company along with ex-Smiths Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke. 

Tom and Ed ( The Chemical Brothers )are still matey with Bernard Sumner, however, who fronted the recent single 'Out Of Control' - and they are set to work with him again, this time on New Order's new album. Three new album tracks have so far been completed for the album, their first since 1993's 'Republic'. If things go to plan, it should see light of day towards the end of the year.

Ex-Factory boss to launch cheap MP3 site

Ex-Factory Records boss Anthony Wilson is to launch Music33.com, an MP3 download site, in May. Linked with financial partners beenz.com and KLELine, the site will offer singles for 33p, which can be paid for with beenz.com 'e-cash' or via KLELine 'K wallet. 

Speaking to Revolution magazine last week (www.revolution.haynet.com), Wilson explained, "It will offer music from hip hop to Indie and everything in between. We believe that the real value is the sale of real songs." In talks with a host of small record companies based in and around his home turf - Manchester - he continued, "We are incredibly heartened, not to mention jubilant, that most of the innovative and trend setting labels in the north are happy to get involved. We can offer tracks at that price because by going direct to the consumer you are cutting around 60 or 70 per cent of your costs." 

Wilson has the jump on ex-Creation Records boss Alan McGee, who plans to sell music online through his new venture, the all-embracing Poptones, an online record label, gallery, film company and an online radio station. But McGee has begun acquiring new artists, including former Heavenly signing Tasha Lee Cluney, whose folky songs are to find a home at Poptones.

Primal Scream's 'EXTERMINATOR'', out on January 31 through Creation, has Bernard Sumner playing guitar on one track "Shoot Speed / Kill Light". 

Q&A with Bobby Gillespie & Mani [former Stone Roses bassist]: 

Q: New Order's Bernard Sumner plays on 'Shoot Speed, Kill Light'. How did that come about? 

Bobby G: 'We wrote this song that was really Germanic - real _Joy Division_, real noisy, psychedelic driving music. The we thought, we need some guitar on this and the best guy to do it was fucking Barney. So we asked him to play and it was perfect.' 

Mani: 'It was me entering the spirit world and getting in touch with Ian Curtis, getting him right involved. 'The band were working on a dark, psychedelic track that started to sound like Joy Division, so they decided to bring him in to play guitar."

MOGWAI, NEW ORDER and PRIMAL SCREAM bassist MANI will all appear on a bizarre concept album from legendary producer ARTHUR BAKER, set for release later this year.

Mogwai, who are in the process of writing the follow-up to last year's 'Come On Die Young' album, have recorded an old Jewish hymn with Baker and, just recently, New Order bassist Peter Hook added to the 'tune'. It's thought the album will contain similar experimental material.

Speaking to NME at the Premier Awards night, Martin Bulloch, Mogwai drummer, told NME: "Arthur came up to Glasgow at the end of last year and we did and old Jewish hymn, a couple of days ago, he got Peter Hook to play on the tune we did as well so that's going to be coming out soon I reckon."

"It's going to be an album, or an EP will all these tunes on it, the guys from New Order are on it, Mani from Primal Scream, it's going to be a tremendous record."

Arthur Baker is best known for his work with Afrika Bambaata, New Edition and New Order.

He recently united artists like Kid Rock, Ozzy Osbourne, The Spice Girls and Mick Jagger for the BBC's charity version of the Rolling Stones classic 'It's Only Rock And Roll (But I Like It)'.

From the "Select" magazine in an interview with Danny Boyle, the director behind Trainspotting and The Beach, his next project is to be a film biography on the life of Ian Curtis. There are no more details at present, but Danny said that he would cast an unknown to play Ian.

Johnny Marr and the Healers, the tentative title of Marr's upcoming solo project.Marr, who's shooting for a summer release, wrote and sings all the tracks on the as-yet-untitled album (Play Dumb is a possibility).

"I've been having an interesting e-conversation with a chap who was involved with Ikon". 

-    "Sad to say that Ikon is no longer a going concern and it ceased trading on the 22 October 1999. The back catalogue was sold to Visionary (aka Jettizounds) who are owned by Cherry Red, that includes all the tapes shot of most bands that appeared in the early days of the Hacienda, some of which where shot by myself (Digressing here: most of them I never saw let alone get copies of and I would have loved to have trawled through them before they got sold, alas that was swift sale and time beat me...) " 

-    "(We) are currently working on a reconstruction of the 8mm Joy Division film, there are some outtakes, photographs which haven't been seen before and a cleaned up audio of the full gig at Bowden Vale which was, apparently, done by Martin Hannett years ago. The reconstruction is ditching all the (dubious?) padding that was in the original, when this will be finished we don't know as we haven't had a transfer to digital that we are satisfied with."

Track Listings
1. Age Of Consent (Thursday 29)
2. Ruined In A Day (Echo Stylus)
3. Touched By The Hand Of God (Strange Angels)
4. True Faith (Satellite Circle)
5. Hurt (Sensoria)
6. Dream Attack (MinGys)
7. In A Lonely Place (Fadestation)

8. Mesh (Florentine Cruise)
9. Confusion (Suzuki Kid)
10. Round & Round (Vegasphere)
11. Regret (Radiate)
12. World In Motion (International Jewel Thieves)
13. Angel Dust (neutered faith)

14. Times Change (Larry Petrov)

Primal Scream's upcoming album 'EXTERMINATOR'', out on January 31 through Creation, has Bernard Sumner playing guitar on one track. The band were working on a dark, psychedelic track that started to sound like Joy Division, so they decided to bring him in to play guitar. 

It features:

1. Spinning Away - Sugar Ray
2. Voices - Dario G/Vanessa Quinoness
3. Yeke Yeke - Mory Kante (Hard Floor mix '98)
4. On Your Own - Blur (Crouch End Broadway mix)
5. Return Of Django - Asian Dub Foundation
6. Pure Shores - All Saints

7. Snake Blood - Leftfield
8. Porcelain - Moby
9. Woozy - Faithless
10. Business As Usual - Barry Adamson/Leonardo DiCaprio
11. Brutal - New Order
12. Orbital Mix - Angelo Badalamenti (Remixed by Orbital)

The one-time journalist and television presenter says the time is right for a revival of the cult label he launched in the late Seventies. He believes that the UK is on the brink of another major pop revolution, which he claims happen every 13 years.

Tony Wilson was interviewed on BBC radio1 on Tuesday, January 11: "Every 13 years there is a new revolution in music - in 63 it was rock, 76 was punk, 89 was acid/baggy. Therefore we SHOULD see a new revolution in 2002, which we should start to see the beginning of next year. Any record company with their antenna up should be starting to sign bands this year who are going to be part of the new movement - even though we don't know what it will be yet..." Wilson clearly wants to be part of this new revolution, obviously craving the excitement brought by being at the center of the emerging punk and acid house scenes. He also admitted to being a fan of Pete Waterman and Steps....

Wednesday January 12, he told British newspaper The Guardian: "Sixty-three was The Beatles, Seventy-six the Sex Pistols. 1989 Happy Mondays and the Stone Roses. I never realized until recently that if you go back even further, that's 1950, the dawn of the teddy boy". 

As well as relaunching Factory, which went bankrupt on November 23 1992, Wilson plans to sell music via the internet from his own MP3 shop at www.music33.com. He believes the Factory offshoot will remove 70 per cent of the costs of selling music. He plans to sell individual songs without B-sides and claims he will undercut the competition by 30p a tune. "These shits charging 99p and then saying to the artists 'You can have so much per cent' can go screw themselves'" 

Wilson can also be seen on ITV on Wednesday nights at 11:30pm GMT, presenting the new arts/pop/interview series called Content.

Confirmation that "Brutal" IS on the soundtrack but is NOT to be released as a single. "...the track sounds undoubtedly New Order...was never seen as a single...was commissioned by Pete Tong for the film...never written or produced as a single release..." New Order promotions spokesperson. 

The Soundtrack "The Beach" ( Cat. No Wea/Sire B000046S17) will be released in the US on February 1, 2000.