Above trials and tribulations, New Order held a ceremony for collective catharsis to thousands of adoring fans, delivering a phenomenal 19-song set at Melbourne's Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Saturday (8 March).
After a well-curated sunset selection of dance tunes from opening DJ TinTin then Juno Mamba, summer dusk set the perfect scene for the main set to come.There were some aggressive cracklings over the PA before the band had walked on, ringing minor alarm bells. As they entered to massive applause, these persisted briefly, though thankfully subsided after the opening few notes of the Joy Division classic, 'Transmission'.
Long-standing bandleader Bernard Sumner delivered an aptly reserved vocal over the track's frenetic rhythm, the band deftly building tension before Sumner's final enthralling call of Ian Curtis' lyrics.
Well I could call out when the going gets tough
The things that we've learnt are no longer enough
No language, just sound, that's all we need know
To synchronise love to the beat of the show
And we could dance
These lines are among the most emblematic of Curtis' direct intentions as an artist, capturing the primary philosophy shared and carried into the dance-driven world of New Order.
Before the final call of the track, however, the overhead speakers viciously spluttered, evidently breaking in real time with the crescendo of 'Transmission'. There were shared looks of confusion and fear that this may well devastate the show.
This angst continued well into the second verse of follow-up track, 'Crystal', one of the grooviest in New Order's near-50 year career. Behind the scenes, the sound crew evidently scrambled to isolate the issue. After some time, the system seemed to switch to a backup, returning mid-song with a slightly altered mix. Kudos to the work of all involved, as the ensuing relief felt by the band and the crowd made the final chorus of 'Crystal', and the set to follow, all the more satisfying.
I don't know what to say
You don't care anyway
I'm a man in a rage
With a girl I betrayed
Both Joy Division and New Order's names are re-purposings of reprehensible political and militaristic origins. Though worlds apart in lyrics and instrumentation, it is perhaps a spirit of persistence in the face of angst that consistently pervades the music of both bands.
In the case of Curtis, this often manifested in more visceral, agonised, trepidant yet empowering cries against dystopia and inner turmoil. Conversely, Sumner's lyricism often centres around more direct individual experiences and interpersonal relationships.
Poetically, these worlds converged with the third song of the evening, Ian Curtis' swan song 'Ceremony'.
I'll break them down, no mercy shown
Heaven knows, it's got to be this time
Featuring lyrics written mere weeks prior to Ian Curtis' death, the track was completed and recorded by what would soon become New Order.
At the time, the band consisted of Sumner and the remaining Joy Division members, including legendary drummer Stephen Morris and Peter Hook, the greatest innovator of melodic basslines since Paul McCartney. In late 1980, the introduction of multi-instrumentalist Gillian Gilbert signified the future of New Order as a revolutionary group.
Following 'Ceremony', 'Age Of Consent' beautifully set the tone of the set's centre portion. The track's lush synth melody bloomed with jubilance, no doubt transporting many diehard fans to times of youth and young love.
And I'm not the kind that likes to tell you
Just what you want me to
You're not the kind that needs to tell me
About the birds and the bees
Joy Division's 'Isolation' came in next, with its scuttering hi-hat groove and anxious, fitful melodies.
Mother, I tried, please believe me
I'm doing the best that I can
I'm ashamed of the things I've been put through
I'm ashamed of the person I am
Isolation
Fans were further treated to an extremely deep cut from 1989 record 'Technique', 'Love Less'. The tune hadn't been performed live since the year of its release, a heavily reciprocated gesture of gratitude to Melbourne's adoring crowd.
Unsurprisingly, 'Bizarre Love Triangle' landed as a mid-set baptism. The tune burst open in with its instantly infectious beat, a genre-defining synthpop track blending programmed synths and melodic bass with deeply personal lyrics. As opposed to the equally celebrated '94 or Extended Dance Mix versions, the group opted for a four-on-the-floor rendition closer resembling the original.
Waves of elation soared from the beaming crowd as the unmistakable thud of 'Blue Monday' kicked in. Slamming with a groove unlike any other, it set thousands dancing with triple intensity, singing along in unabashed joy.
After a brief retreat, the band returned to deliver a brilliant encore, first delivering a heartwarming rendition of Joy Division's 'Atmosphere'. The tune, drenched in a surreal compassion reminiscent of the starkly contrasting 'lighter moments' in David Lynch films, laid a dreamy bed for the true closing track.
'Love Will Tear Us Apart' brought the house down, sending off with the vital energy, angst, and uncanny sense of both agony and hope that only the greatest works of art achieve.
Shuffling out of the Sidney Myer Bowl, another concert goer relayed his two prior experiences seeing New Order. The first was at Festival Hall in 1987, in such typical February heat to necessitate even the lords of new wave to wear shorts onstage.
The second of his shows was also at the Myer Bowl, having occurred on 14 March, 2020. This performance, he said, was haunted by the looming threat of the COVID pandemic, marked by an eerie collective sense that it would be the last show of its kind for quite some time. This considered, his third New Order show (and my first) delivered a sense of closure, with the initial sound issues spookily befitting the arc and ensuing triumph of the group's long history.
In the face of all obstacles – be they geographic, globally catastrophic, or tragic personal losses – New Order have always persisted for the fans. To the band and to the crew, well done sticking to your guns and making it happen.
It's never been an easy road for Sumner and co. It takes a special spirit not to live in the shadow of immense grief, and the legacy of one so singular as Ian Curtis. Not only do New Order march on, they carry the torch.
