Saturday, May 24, 2008

New Order - "As It Is When It Was"

The first track in the New Order repertoire to prominently feature acoustic guitar, the third song on Brotherhood features a typically incoherent Sumnerian refrain but more than enough nuance in the arrangements to compensate. This 1985 version hits the spot for many reasons, not the least of which is how solidly/stolidly Gillian Gilbert, back to the audience, carves a rhythm guitar figure that allows Peter Hook's bass to fill every available space with the sound of doomy minor-key romantic melancolia.

Happy Memorial Day weekend.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

just finished watching 'control' for the first time and this, one of my favorite songs by new order, is just as bleak and sad and hopeless, while stirring nonetheless as long as it's alive. thanks for the vid.