There’s more to New Order than ‘Blue Monday’. Although that’s a classic tune, the group’s earlier work is worth some attention.
Released in 1981 on Movement, ‘Senses’ is still recognisably influenced by the group’s Joy Division origins, although it does lead with a chunky synth bass and features the distinctive guitar sound seen on ‘Blue Monday’.
It feels experimental, a transitional stage. Although nobody really ‘got’ it at the time, the debut album has become a landmark retrospectively, even if it does seem a bit confused.