I
think they were at least as important to Detroit as a lot of the other
synth-pop-type bands of that era, like Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, Erasure,
and the less-pop ones too.
Definitely--it was the thick synths and rabid experimentation (on
Stephen Morris' part) with electronic percussion that seems to have
caught the fancy of not only early techno mavens, but early hip-hop
artists as well. After all, Quincy Jones was the one instrumental in
getting the 4-some their deal (and subsequent fame) in the US.
Substance...classics + rarities, and a great broad introduction, but not an
album per
se. All of it is good though, and getting recommendations will largely just
reflect the listener's taste.
If you have more $$ to drop, the expansive new Retro 4/5 disc comp has a
lot of good stuff on it too, including rare remixes. Perhaps one of the
defining elements of New Order was (and continues to be) their selection
of remixers (thanks in no small part to Pete Tong). Arthur Baker, Shep
Pettibone, early Oakenfold/Perfecto remixes, Andrew Weatherall, Kevin
Sanderson, Terry Farley/Pete Heller/JBO (that's the Fire Island mix of
Regret)...all of these remixed New Order early on. Much of the good
stuff is available on Retro.
But yeah, go with Tristan's suggestion and get Substance, maybe
Technique to get a feel for the dance-y stuff.
Oh - you'll also probably like the Fire Island remix on the Regret 12" (off
of 'Republic'), although that album has not stood the test of time as well
as most of their other work. Never heard the latest one. Couldn't bring
myself to taint the memory.
Republic and Get Ready both sit outside the traditional canon of most
New Order fans. Why? Lots of theories abound, but in general the band
more or less broke up after Technique (1989), and frankly never really
found their groove again as a singular unit when they got back together.
By the time of Republic (1993), all four of them had gone off and done
a separate project (Morris and Gilbert having the cheekiest name--"The
Other Two")
Heath
