Huge Thanks to ianmacd for sharing this fabulous recording on Dime. Hats off!
RECORDING:
Type: Audience master, recorded 4 metres back from the suspended left-hand
side PA stack.
Source: Factory-matched pair of Schoeps CCM 41V microphones (DINa mounted) ->
Marantz PMD661 recorder with Oade Concert Mod
(-18 dB gain/44.1 kHz/24 bit WAV)
Lineage: Audacity 2.0.5
* Attenuated transient peaks as prelude to normalisation.
* Separately normalised each of the four files to 0 dB.
* Crossfaded end of each file into beginning of next for seamless
listening experience.
* Applied variable envelope amplification across recording for
consistent listening experience.
* Added fades.
* Split tracks.
* Converted to 16 bit.
-> FLAC (compression level 8) [libFLAC 1.3.0 20130526]
Taper: ianmacd
SET LIST:
01. [02:28] Exercise One
02. [03:46] These Days
03. [02:44] Digital
04. [02:38] Something Must Break
05. [03:15] Walked In Line
06. [04:20] She's Lost Control
07. [05:33] Shadowplay
08. [03:29] Procession
09. [03:13] Dreams Never End
10. [04:53] Truth
11. [04:16] Senses
12. [03:48] Chosen Time
13. [04:14] ICB
14. [05:01] The Him
15. [05:08] Doubts Even Here
16. [04:21] Denial
17. [04:09] Cries And Whispers
18. [04:18] Everything's Gone Green
19. [00:25] [banter]
20. [05:21] Age Of Consent
21. [05:49] We All Stand
22. [04:21] The Village
23. [07:11] 5 8 6
24. [06:44] Your Silent Face
25. [04:56] Ultraviolence
26. [03:52] Ecstasy
27. [04:53] Leave Me Alone
28. [01:40] [encore break]
29. [05:27] Ceremony
30. [07:07] Temptation
31. [07:45] Blue Monday
Total running time: 137:21
NOTES:
My legs are protesting at having already had to hold the rest of me upright
for 3+ hours by the time Peter Hook and The Light take to the stage of The Max
at 22:45 to headline the second edition of Grauzone.
I've skipped the band's tours thus far. The idea of watching an ex-member of
Joy Division playing in his own tribute band seemed a bit sad to me and
therefore unappealing, on a par with the idea of seeing a New Order without
Hooky tread the boards again to pay off their mortgages.
I've slowly mellowed to the idea, though; perhaps made curious by the fact
that Hooky's odyssey through his back-catalogue now sees him arrive at his
former band's first work in their post-Curtis incarnation as New Order.
There are now effectively two bands out there on the live circuit, playing New
Order repertoire. One is still using the name and boasts more original members
of the band, but is Hooky's right to play the songs thereby in any way
diminished? I don't believe so.
Although there's been a lot of mud-slinging on both sides, I'm sympathetic to
Hooky's plight. He seems to have been left holding the shittier end of the
stick, as it were. He also has that much more to prove, singing songs that
were never (meant to be) sung by him and without the luxury of being able to
wield the brand name for its pulling power.
We're treated to a seven song, 25 minute Joy Division set as an appetiser,
after which the band leave the stage without announcement. Where have they
gone? And why? How long will they be gone?
The lights stay off and the band return within five minutes. Rather than
include several minutes of pointless audience rhubarb or fade one set out and
the next back in, I have chosen to crossfade from one to the next for a
seamless listening experience.
The next set starts with 'Procession' as a prelude to New Order's first album,
'Movement'. The song appears to be launched by the bass and it's not until I'm
mastering the gig afterwards that I notice that its synth intro is, in fact,
present, but so quiet that it's barely audible. It must have been coming
through only the stage monitor, but I didn't even notice it at the time.
The band are impressively tight, the proverbial well-oiled machine. Bass
duties are mostly handled by Jack Bates, Hooky's son, although Hooky also
plays bass, but mostly when he's not otherwise occupied with singing.
Apart from Hooky's voice, it's uncanny how faithfully the band are able to
reproduce the Joy Division and early New Order songs. I'm very impressed. In
fact, Hooky's voice is actually a lot closer to the baritone of Ian Curtis
than Bernard Sumner's, so he's significantly more convincing on those songs.
'Denial' ends the album and thus also the second set. The band disappear once
again for a piss/fag/pint, the lights remain off a second time and the shadowy
figures are once again back within five minutes.
The third set starts with another non-album preface, the eternally confusing
'Cries And Whispers', which many a fan will take to their grave believing to
be 'Mesh'.¹ Always one of my favourite early New Order songs, it sounds
frankly awesome in here tonight.
Following that song's A-side, 'Everything's Gone Green', the band take the lid
off New Order's second album, 'Power, Corruption & Lies'. Although a much
poppier album, the stylistic change is convincingly negotiated by the band.
It's finally possible to dance, and many now seize the opportunity.
The end of the album leads us into the encore break and signals my opportunity
to change batteries. I've been recording the band for two hours now, and with
no idea how long the encore will run, it's better to be safe than sorry.
Again, a crossfade at this point ensures that the listening experience remains
seamless.
The evening finishes on a trio of singles, 'Ceremony', 'Temptation' and 'Blue
Monday'. Hooky looks as if he wants to go on, but someone has called time on
him and he says his goodbye.
It's 01:15. The band played for a good two hours and fifteen minutes, and
that's after subtracting the time spent off-stage between sets. I think it's
fair to say that the band played an absolute blinder tonight.
I bike home in the rain at approximately 1 km/h, my knees having all but
completely seized up after standing for almost six hours, glued to the same
spot. Was it worth it? You bet. Wait until you hear the recording.
I'm beyond chuffed at how well the recording has turned out. It has surpassed
my already high expectations and sounds, let's be frank, bloody brilliant. I
consider this essential listening.
--
¹ http://www.theatreofnoise.com/2006/02/rarest-new-order-song.html
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