Comments for New Order, Republic

Dreadful.

A great disappointment from such talented folks. The album was uninspired and rushed. A shiny new record label, a big-name producer, and slick packaging cannot disguise the mediocrity. Obviously, the gang has lost touch with why they ever started a band in the first place.

Republic started out as a Factory (famous UK independentlabel) record, but unfortunately (or fortunately, accordingto New Order themselves) Factory went into liquidation atabout the time the record was finished.The band described making the record as being like "pushinga car uphill with the handbrake on" (handbrake = parkingbrake for non-UK readers).Factory were having talks with London (records) about a 50%partnership (i.e. London injected a couple of million quidinto Factory and got a 50% stake in return). However, it wasthen discovered that nowhere was there any legal piece ofpaper stating that Factory had any claim to the soundrecordings, artwork etc. etc. of all of New Order`s material,including the new album.The talks collapsed, Factory went into liquidation and NewOrder cut their own deal with London records. Hence the re-release of New Order`s back catalogue and Republic on NewOrder`s own label, CentreDate Co Ltd.