New Order, Confidence Man

New Order, Confidence Man @ First Direct Enviornment, Leeds, UK, October 7, 2023,

Oct 11, 2023
By Dom Gourlay
Pictures by Adam Houghton
Net Unique

Flicking via music’s again pages its tough to pinpoint a extra revolutionary or iconic band than New Order, definitely so far as the final 4 a long time are involved. Whether or not that be the groundbreaking fusion of post-punk and disco and later, acid home. New Order have all the time been one step forward of the sport and several other extra in entrance of their friends. So, its nothing wanting a celebratory environment this night when the ultimate UK leg of their quick European tour arrives in Leeds.

Earlier than the headliners take the stage, it’s the flip of Confidence Man to leisure these revellers who’ve arrived early. Taking an analogous cue from New Order by fusing parts of pop, disco and all the things else in between, Confidence Man have blossomed into probably the most thrilling reside acts on the planet. It’s been an absolute delight watching the Brisbane collective develop, from these first humble UK exhibits at Brighton’s Nice Escape in the summertime of 2017 to the world conquering outfit performing earlier than us at the moment. Though they play a shorter set than regular – understandably as there’s additionally New Order’s long-standing tour DJ TinTin to go on after earlier than the headliners – the influence is not any much less sensational. Opener “Out The Window” nonetheless appears like a misplaced outtake from the Screamadelica periods whereas current singles “On & On (Once more)” and “Now U Do” are good fare for a Saturday night time out. “Feels Like A Totally different Factor” takes the get together to a different stage, focal factors Janet Planet and Sugar Bones energetic and occasional acrobatic dancing passing on related vibes to these within the stalls. Penultimate quantity and debut single “Boyfriend (Repeat)” reminds one and all why we fell in love with Confidence Man within the first place whereas nearer “Vacation” is an anthem for all events, regardless of the time or place. Don’t be shocked to see Confidence Man headlining venues of this measurement themselves earlier than lengthy, such is their unassailable ascension.

For a band like New Order, enjoying venues of this measurement and magnitude has been half and parcel for almost all of their careers. Which is comprehensible when contemplating their again catalogue and significance within the grand scheme of issues, each musically and culturally. Founder members Bernard Sumner, Gillian Gilbert and Stephen Morris stand assured alongside more moderen arrivals Phil Cunningham and Tom Chapman. Collectively they’re nonetheless probably the most ahead considering musical ensembles round, so whereas the setlist is a profession spanning showcase of the band’s glittering profession – together with a nod to Morris and Sumner’s previous in Pleasure Division – lots of the songs themselves are reworked to sound as recent and invigorating as they did when first created.

Enjoying in entrance of a backdrop that mixes movies of basic singles with vibrant lasers just like these from the Hacienda again within the day, it units for the scene for a spectacular occasion relatively than your common bathroom normal gig. Approaching to a recording of Wagner’s “Tristan Und Isolde”, the band instantly launch into 2001 single “Crystal”, which is swiftly adopted by “Remorse” off 1993’s Republic, debut single “Ceremony” and followers favorite “Age of Consent”, considered one of two songs aired off second lengthy participant Energy, Corruption & Lies. As opening salvos go, it actually doesn’t get a lot better than this and unsurprisingly, each tune is obtained higher than the final by the excitedly enthusiastic viewers.

Newer materials similar to 2015’s “Stressed” or “Be A Insurgent”, their most up-to-date composition from 2020 – will get an equally vigorous reception. Such is the power emanating from the stage and again once more, each band and viewers feeding off one another all through. A reworked “Isolation” is the primary of 4 Pleasure Division songs aired this night, whereas an elongated model of “The Excellent Kiss” – mockingly making its debut on the final night time of the UK tour – goes down an absolute storm. As does “Sub-Tradition”, maybe considered one of New Order’s most understated releases from the band’s most prolific eighties interval however nonetheless no much less potent, notably within the flesh.

Album tracks from reverse ends of the band’s profession spectrum “Plastic” (off 2015’s Music Full) and “Vanishing Level” (from 1989’s Approach) discover themselves sandwiched between two of their most cherished 45s “Weird Love Triangle” and “True Religion”, earlier than “Blue Monday” and “Temptation” flip the First Direct Enviornment into a reproduction of a mid-eighties warehouse get together for one night time solely. Flawless in each conceivable means, whether or not that be Sumner’s vocals, the musicality of his colleagues or the visuals that accompany them, that is the sound of a band on the very prime of their sport.

The encore pays homage to Ian Curtis and the place all of it started as Pleasure Division, Sumner delivering a sombre “Ambiance” then wonderful run via “Transmission” earlier than “Love Will Tear Us Aside” brings proceedings and this leg of the tour to an in depth.

As iconic performances go, it actually doesn’t get a lot better than this.