After watching Anton Corbijn's absolutely stunning Control three times over the weekend, the staff at Waist High thought it fitting to mention that it will be 25 years ago in May that Factory Records released New Order's third album Low-Life (FAC 100), the only New Order album to feature members of the band on its cover and the first to be accompanied by singles that were actually taken from an album.
Low-Life was preceded by the release of an 8:46 version of "The Perfect Kiss," (the 4:48 version appears on the album) and a remix of "Sub-culture" was released as a 12" single in November.
Five years after the death of Ian Curtis ended the band's former life as Joy Division (with the addition of Gillian Gilbert on keyboards), New Order broke into the mainstream with Low-Life, and to this writer's ear it was the first set of recordings that were not overshadowed by that atmospheric spaciousness that is so closely associated with producer Martin Hannett. This was a new sound.
Low-Life was ranked #97 by Q magazine in 2000 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever, and is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
