Music Complete

Music Complete marks a return to a more electronic direction compared to New Order's previous two albums, which had been more guitar-based.{{Cite web|title = The Quietus {{!}} Features {{!}} A Quietus Interview {{!}} Unfinished Business: New Order Interviewed|url = http://thequietus.com/articles/18914-new-order-interview-music-complete|website = The Quietus|access-date = 2015-12-01}} This is the first album without former bassist Peter Hook, as well as the recorded debut of Tom Chapman and the return of Gillian Gilbert, who had taken leave from the band in 2001, but toured with them from 2011 onwards. Guest backing vocals are provided by Denise Johnson and Dawn Zee, who have performed with the band on their last three albums.

In March and July 2014, the band revealed their first new songs on tour at Lollapalooza Chile and in the United States: "Plastic" and "Singularity".{{cite web|last1=Dart|first1=Chris|title=New Order debut new song, 'Plastic,' at show in Chicago|url=http://music.cbc.ca/#!/blogs/2014/7/New-Order-debut-new-song-Plastic-at-show-in-Chicago|website=music.cbc.ca|publisher=CBC|access-date=17 July 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Hudson|first1=Alex|title=New Order Announce North American Summer Tour, Play Vancouver|url=http://exclaim.ca/Music/article/new_order_announce_north_american_summer_tour_play_vancouver|website=exclaim.ca|publisher=Exclaim!|access-date=17 July 2015|date=17 March 2014}}

On 2 and 4 September 2014, Billboard, along with Stereogum and Consequence of Sound reported that New Order had signed on to Mute Records and that future releases were expected, at the time planned to be EPs which would then be "probably put together as an album." Billboard also announced Bernard Sumner's autobiography, Chapter and Verse, which was released on 24 September of the same year.{{cite web|last1=Smirke|first1=Richard|title=New Order Signs to Mute Records, Plans New Release in 2015 |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6236599/new-order-signs-mute-records-deal-new-album-2015|website=www.billboard.com|publisher=Billboard|access-date=17 July 2015|date=2 September 2014}}{{cite web|last1=Sesar|first1=Misha|title=New Order's Music Complete Features Brandon Flowers, Iggy Pop, La Roux|url=http://www.stereogum.com/1813841/new-orders-music-complete-features-brandon-flowers-iggy-pop-la-roux/news/|website=Stereogum|access-date=12 July 2015|date=7 July 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Kaye|first1=Ben|title=New Order intend to release new album in Fall 2015 |url=https://consequence.net/2015/01/new-order-intend-to-release-new-album-in-fall-2015/|website=consequence.net|publisher=Consequence of Sound|access-date=17 July 2015|date=22 January 2015}}

On 22 June, the official New Order site announced the release date and title of the album, Music Complete. The website also provided terms of distribution: CD, digital download, and limited edition clear vinyl, along with an exclusive 8-piece deluxe vinyl collection that includes the album plus extended versions of all 11 tracks on coloured vinyl.{{cite web|author1=New Order|title=New Order Announce New Album: Music Complete: 25th September 2015|url=http://www.neworder.com/newordernow/2015/6/22/new-order-announce-new-album-music-complete-25th-september-2.html|website=www.neworder.com|publisher=New Order|access-date=17 July 2015|date=22 June 2015|archive-date=23 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023063826/http://www.neworder.com/newordernow/2015/6/22/new-order-announce-new-album-music-complete-25th-september-2.html|url-status=dead}}

On 22 June, 30 June, and 7 July, the official New Order YouTube channel uploaded three separate teasers that included snippets of music from the album.{{cite web|author1=New Order|title=New Order - Music Complete: 1|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SbkcTjJscA|website=www.youtube.com|publisher=YouTube|access-date=17 July 2015|date=22 June 2015}}{{cite web|author1=New Order|title=New Order - Music Complete: 2|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-qp6W3mgNo|website=www.youtube.com|publisher=YouTube|access-date=17 July 2015|date=30 June 2015}}{{cite web|author1=New Order|title=New Order - Music Complete: 3|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aByJRI3_amE|website=www.youtube.com|publisher=YouTube|access-date=17 July 2015|date=7 July 2015}}

On 29 July, "Restless" was released as the first single for the album.{{cite magazine|title=Hear New Order's Triumphant New Song 'Restless'.|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/hear-new-orders-triumphant-new-single-restless-20150728|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=16 September 2015}} On 19 October, "Tutti Frutti" was released as the album's second single. A third single, "Singularity", was released 18 March 2016.{{Cite web|url=http://mute.com/mute/share-erol-alkans-remix-of-singularity|title=MUTE • New Order • Share Erol Alkan's Remix of Singularity|website=MUTE|date=11 March 2016 |access-date=2016-04-11}} "People on the High Line" was released as the fourth single on 29 July 2016, announced with a fan music video competition.{{Cite web|url=https://genero.tv/neworder/|title=New Order|website=Genero|access-date=2016-05-14}}

The artwork for Music Complete was created by New Order's long-time art director and collaborator Peter Saville. The artwork features a montage of lines with the colours red, yellow, green and blue. Depending on the type of format, the colour schemes vary. For the CD, the pattern clockwise from top right is yellow, red, blue and green. The LPs are red, yellow, green and blue. Digital downloads are the regular format; blue, green, red and yellow. The deluxe edition's artwork is the same as the album, but all six coloured vinyl sleeves are different styles, and have no colour. The six coloured vinyl range from red to purple.{{cite web|title=Music Complete Deluxe Vinyl Box Set|url=http://usstore.neworder.com/music-complete-deluxe-vinyl-box-set-1.html|website=usstore.neworder.com|publisher=New Order|access-date=17 July 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701215406/http://usstore.neworder.com/music-complete-deluxe-vinyl-box-set-1.html|archive-date=1 July 2015|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|title=Music Complete CD|url=http://usstore.neworder.com/music-complete-cd-1.html|website=usstore.neworder.com|publisher=New Order|access-date=17 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721171810/http://usstore.neworder.com/music-complete-cd-1.html|archive-date=21 July 2015|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Music Complete 2LP (Black Vinyl)|url=http://usstore.neworder.com/music-complete-2lp-black-vinyl-1.html|website=usstore.neworder.com|publisher=New Order|access-date=17 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721222956/http://usstore.neworder.com/music-complete-2lp-black-vinyl-1.html|archive-date=21 July 2015|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Music Complete HD Audio Download|url=http://usstore.neworder.com/music-complete-hd-audio-download-1.html|website=usstore.neworder.com|publisher=New Order|access-date=17 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721201400/http://usstore.neworder.com/music-complete-hd-audio-download-1.html|archive-date=21 July 2015|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Music Complete Audio Download|url=http://usstore.neworder.com/music-complete-audio-download-1.html|website=usstore.neworder.com|publisher=New Order|access-date=17 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721182423/http://usstore.neworder.com/music-complete-audio-download-1.html|archive-date=21 July 2015|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Music Complete Limited Edition 2LP (Clear Vinyl)|url=http://usstore.neworder.com/music-complete-limited-edition-2lp-clear-vinyl-1.html|website=usstore.neworder.com|publisher=New Order|access-date=17 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721201211/http://usstore.neworder.com/music-complete-limited-edition-2lp-clear-vinyl-1.html|archive-date=21 July 2015|url-status=dead}}

Music Complete was released on 25 September in five different formats: CD, regular and limited-edition double-clear LP, digital download, and an 8-piece deluxe vinyl box set. All CD and LP orders come with MP3 and audio downloads of the album. The deluxe box set includes the clear double LP, along with extended versions of all 11 tracks on six different coloured vinyl (the 9 tracks of extended version later re-released as Complete Music in 2016). The box set was released on 6 November 2015. A limited edition re-release was issued for Love Record Stores day, 20 June 2020. The double vinyl LP was pressed in orange vinyl and issued in a gatefold sleeve. The release included a 12 page booklet.

{{Music ratings

| ADM = 7.6/10{{cite web |url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/7517/New-Order-Music-Complete.aspx |title=Music Complete by New Order reviews |publisher=AnyDecentMusic? |access-date=6 December 2019}}

| MC = 76/100{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/music-complete/new-order |title=Reviews for Music Complete by New Order |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=22 September 2015}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/music-complete-mw0002855811 |title=Music Complete – New Order |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=24 September 2015 |last=Sendra |first=Tim}}

| rev2 = The A.V. Club

| rev2score = B{{cite web |url=http://www.avclub.com/review/new-order-call-it-comeback-225539 |title=New Order: Call it a comeback |work=The A.V. Club |date=25 September 2015 |access-date=28 October 2015 |last=Modell |first=Josh}}

| rev3 = The Guardian

| rev3score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/sep/24/new-order-music-complete-review |title=New Order: Music Complete review – fresh, danceable album with intriguing diversions |work=The Guardian |date=24 September 2015 |access-date=25 September 2015 |last=Jonze |first=Tim}}

| rev4 = Mixmag

| rev4score = 8/10{{cite magazine |url=http://www.mixmag.net/read/new-order-reviews |title=New Order |magazine=Mixmag |date=18 September 2015 |access-date=22 September 2015 |last=Worthy |first=S.}}

| rev5 = Mojo

| rev5score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.mojo4music.com/21823/new-order-music-complete/ |title=New Order – Music Complete |magazine=Mojo |date=25 September 2015 |access-date=28 October 2015 |last=Cameron |first=Keith}}

| rev6 = The Observer

| rev6score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/sep/27/new-order-music-complete-review-unexpectedly-coherent |title=New Order: Music Complete review – an unexpectedly coherent return |work=The Observer |date=27 September 2015 |access-date=28 October 2015 |last=Mongredien |first=Phil}}

| rev7 = Pitchfork

| rev7score = 7.2/10{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21036-music-complete/ |title=New Order: Music Complete |work=Pitchfork |date=22 September 2015 |access-date=22 September 2015 |last=Rachel |first=T. Cole}}

| rev8 = Q

| rev8score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |title=New Order: Music Complete |magazine=Q |issue=351 |date=October 2015 |page=116}}

| rev9 = Rolling Stone

| rev9score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/new-order-music-complete-20150921 |title=Music Complete |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=21 September 2015 |access-date=22 September 2015 |last=Walters |first=Barry}}

| rev10 = Uncut

| rev10score = 7/10{{cite magazine |title=New Order: Music Complete |magazine=Uncut |issue=221 |date=October 2015 |last=Dalton |first=Stephen |page=74}}

}}

Music Complete received generally positive reviews from critics. On Metacritic, the album has a weighted average score of 76 out of 100 based on 21 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews". Mixmag{{'}}s S. Worthy described the record as "an album of outstanding pop, shuddering dance-rock and intricate electronic moods. Barry Walters of Rolling Stone wrote: "Just as Curtis' suicide inspired his bandmates to reinvent themselves as New Order in 1980, Hook's departure frees them to create their most varied and substantial work in decades." Michael Roffman of Consequence of Sound called Music Complete "the rare late era LP that blossoms with life, while also echoing the past",{{cite web |url=https://consequence.net/2015/09/album-review-new-order-music-complete/ |title=New Order – Music Complete |work=Consequence of Sound |date=23 September 2015 |access-date=24 September 2015 |last=Roffman |first=Michael}} while Tim Jonze of The Guardian wrote that the album "feels like the freshest thing they've done in ages."

Pitchfork critic T. Cole Rachel called it their most refined album since Technique, and remarked that Music Complete sounds like "classic New Order" and that the album "certainly doesn’t do anything to diminish New Order’s formidable legacy, but it doesn’t necessarily expand upon it either." Stephen Dalton of Uncut felt that it "drags and trundles in places", but is "easily New Order's best album since Technique, and probably their most musically diverse ever." In a less favourable review, Tim Sendra of AllMusic called it "a watered-down and uninspired album by a band that lost the plot long ago and can now only capture an occasional glimmer of what made it so great in the first place." Concluding a less favourable 1 of 5 star review, Truck & Driver wrote: "...full of soggy, uninspired self-indulgent material that sounds like a mish-mash of 80s B-sides. Save your money."{{cite journal |first=Shaun |last=Connors |title=Review: Don't Order|periodical=Truck & Driver |publisher=Kelsey Publishing Group |location=Sutton, Surrey, England |page=30|date=January 2016}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Music Complete track listing

| all_writing = New Order, except where noted

| title1 = Restless

| length1 = 5:28

| title2 = Singularity

| writer2 = New Order, Tom Rowlands

| length2 = 5:37

| title3 = Plastic

| length3 = 6:55

| title4 = Tutti Frutti

| note4 = featuring Elly Jackson

| length4 = 6:22

| title5 = People on the High Line

| note5 = featuring Elly Jackson

| length5 = 5:41

| title6 = Stray Dog

| note6 = featuring Iggy Pop

| length6 = 6:17

| title7 = Academic

| length7 = 5:54

| title8 = Nothing but a Fool

| length8 = 7:43

| title9 = Unlearn This Hatred

| writer9 = New Order, Rowlands

| length9 = 4:19

| title10 = The Game

| length10 = 5:06

| title11 = Superheated

| writer11 = New Order, Brandon Flowers

| note11 = featuring Brandon Flowers

| length11 = 5:04

| total_length = 64:26

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = 12-inch vinyl box set including digital download (Music Complete Extended Mixes)

| title1 = Restless

| note1 = extended mix

| length1 = 9:30

| title2 = Singularity

| note2 = extended mix

| writer2 = New Order, Rowlands

| length2 = 7:34

| title3 = Plastic

| note3 = extended mix

| length3 = 9:07

| title4 = Tutti Frutti

| note4 = extended mix; featuring Elly Jackson

| length4 = 8:05

| title5 = People on the High Line

| note5 = extended mix; featuring Elly Jackson

| length5 = 7:52

| title6 = Stray Dog

| note6 = extended mix; featuring Iggy Pop

| length6 = 6:31

| title7 = Academic

| note7 = extended mix

| length7 = 8:57

| title8 = Nothing but a Fool

| note8 = extended mix

| length8 = 9:32

| title9 = Unlearn This Hatred

| note9 = extended mix

| writer9 = New Order, Rowlands

| length9 = 5:26

| title10 = The Game

| note10 = extended mix

| length10 = 7:25

| title11 = Superheated

| note11 = extended mix; featuring Brandon Flowers

| writer11 = New Order, Flowers

| length11 = 7:39

| total_length = 87:38

}}

The band embarked on an initial tour in support of Music Complete from 4 November 2015 to 20 December 2015, with tour dates held across Europe and the UK plus stops at the Clockenflap festival in Hong Kong and the Day for Night Festival in the United States.{{Cite web|title = New Order - New Order - New Order touring 2015|url = http://www.neworder.com/newordernow/2015/10/14/new-order-touring-2015.html|website = www.neworder.com|access-date = 2015-12-15}} Future tour plans include the 2016 Sónar Festival in Barcelona.{{Cite web|title = New Order - New Order - New Order Announce Sonar 2016|url = http://www.neworder.com/newordernow/2015/11/26/new-order-announce-sonar-2016.html|website = neworder.com|access-date = 2015-12-15}}

Musician credits for New Order are not listed in the liner notes of the album's personnel. Below are the instruments that the group typically plays.

• Bernard Sumner – vocals, guitar, keyboards, synthesisers
• Stephen Morris – drums and percussion, keyboards, synthesisers, drum programming
• Gillian Gilbert – keyboards, synthesisers
• Phil Cunningham – guitars, keyboards, synthesisers, electronic percussion
• Tom Chapman – bass, backing vocals, synthesisers

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

The liner notes list the album's personnel as follows:

• New Order – producer (tracks 1, 3–8, 10, 11)
• Daniel Miller – executive producer
• Tom Rowlands – producer (tracks 2, 9)
• Stuart Price – additional production (track 11)
• Danny Davies – engineering, pre-production
• Jim Spencer – additional engineering (Eve Studios, Stockport)
• Rafael Pereira – additional engineering (Elite Music studios, Miami)
• Robert Root – additional engineering (Battle Born studios, Las Vegas)
• Steve Dub – additional engineering (Rowlands Audio Research)
• Craig Silvey – mixing (Toast studios, London) (tracks 1, 2, 4–10)
• Eduardo de la Paz – mixing assistant (Toast studios, London) (tracks 1, 2, 4–10)
• Richard X and Pete Hofmann – mixing (track 3)
• Iggy Pop – vocals (track 6)
• Brandon Flowers – vocals, mixing (track 11)
• La Roux – vocals (tracks 4, 5), backing vocals (track 3)
• Dawn Zee – backing vocals (tracks 3, 8)
• Denise Johnson – backing vocals (tracks 3, 8)
• Giacomo Cavagna – Italian spoken vocal (track 4)

{{col-2}}

• Joe Duddell – string arrangements, conductor (Manchester Camerata Strings) {{small|(1, 4, 5, 8, 10)}}
• Katie Stillman – violin
• Paula Smart – violin
• Karen Mainwaring – violin
• Simmy Singh – violin
• Sophie Mather – violin
• Gemma Bass – violin
• Anthony Banks – violin
• Sian Goodwin – violin
• Rachel Jones – viola
• Jordan Bowron – viola
• Nathaniel Boyd – cello
• Barbara Grunthal – cello
• Daniel Storer – double bass
• Strings recorded at 80 Hertz Studios, The Sharp Project, Manchester
• George Atkins – engineer (strings)

• Frank Arkwright – mastering (Abbey Road Studios)
• Peter Saville – art direction
• Paul Hetherington – design

{{col-end}}

{{certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Music Complete}}

{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United Kingdom|artist=new Order|title=Music Complete|award=Silver|certyear=2016|relyear=2015|id=13651-2204-2|salesamount=76,708|salesref={{cite web|url=http://www.musicweek.com/talent/read/new-order-reach-settlement-with-peter-hook/069859|title=New Order reach settlement with Peter Hook|publisher=Music Week|first=Andre|last=Paine|date=20 September 2017|access-date=17 November 2018}}}}

{{end}}

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite web|title=Watch A Teaser For New Order's New Album Music Complete|date=22 June 2015 |url=http://www.stereogum.com/1810658/new-order-announce-new-album-music-complete/mp3s/|publisher=Stereogum|access-date=27 June 2015}}

}}

• {{Discogs master|888906|type=album}}

{{New Order}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2015 albums

Category:Albums produced by Stuart Price

Category:Mute Records albums

Category:New Order (band) albums