Waiting for the Sirens Call (Chi) [Import]

New Order | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 5, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Wea International
• ASIN: B0007RTFKW
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (144 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #709,555 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Who's Joe

2. Hey Now What You Doing

3. Waiting For The Sirens Call

4. Krafty

5. I Told You So

6. Morning Night & Day

7. Dracula's Castle

8. Jetstream

9. Guilt Is A Useless Emotion

10. Turn New Drum

11. Working Overtime

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The Killers. Interpol. Franz Ferdinand. Without New Order's influence they could have all ended up making albums of country & western ballads. Since the demise of Joy Division in 1980, the British synth-pop quartet has been diligently changing the course of popular music, lobbing unlikely but inventive hits like "Blue Monday" and "True Faith" into the charts. Twenty-five years on, New Order remains shockingly vital. Its eighth proper album overflows with shimmering melodies, anchored by Peter Hook's spine-tingling bass lines and Bernard Sumner's thin but emotive voice in thrilling new songs like "Krafty" and "Dracula's Castle." -- Aidin Vaziri

Product Description

Japanese edition of their 2005 album includes three bonus tracks, 'Krafty' (Japanese Version - Exclusive to this pressing,) 'Krafty' (The Glimmers 12-inch Extended) and Krafty (Phones Reality Remix). The album was recorded in several British studios throughout 2004 and features a 'dancier' angle as opposed to the guitar-heavy 'Get Ready'. This is New Order's first record made without founding keyboardist Gillian Gilbert. . London Recording. 2005. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a crazy world / For a mixed-up guy / And a no-good girl, June 3, 2005

By 

Angry Mofo "angrymofo" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Waiting for the Sirens' Call (U.S. Bonus Track) (Audio CD)

New Order are the greatest musicians in rock. In their earliest days, as Joy Division, they wrote music that reached unimaginable heights of passion; as New Order, they wrote music that sounded forever young and carefree; they always had more talent than was meant for mortal man. We know that even the weakest New Order song will be superior to the vast majority of popular music, and so, all we ask from every New Order album is one, just one glorious song of breathtaking brilliance, a song to make us shudder with bliss. Such are "Temptation," "The Perfect Kiss," "True Faith." We were a bit worried in 2001, when New Order recorded their first album in eight years, but fortunately, the first song on it was "Crystal," and when we heard it, we put our inner critic to rest, because we knew that everything would be all right. And in 2005, once again, when the sun is shining outside, and the heat is coming down hard on the lazy streets, and young people are undergoing the greatest romances of their lives, there's nothing to do but put New Order's new album on repeat.

Bernard Sumner's vocals just get better with age. No one can match him for warmth and charm. He's like the best friend you always wished you had, who always thought of the most fun things to do, who could always get away with breaking the rules, who never seemed to be weighed down with cares, and who later flew the world, kissed pretty girls in every city, and came back to see you ten years later without having changed a bit. Just listen to him sing "I've got to find you, whatever I do" on the opening track. If your real friends are as loyal, consider yourself lucky. What about his voice in the chorus of "Hey Now What You Doing"? Just listen to the way his voice goes into an enraptured falsetto on the stressed syllables. It's perfect, and he sounds like he's not even trying. When he sings "you are my jet-stream lover" in "Jetstream," you know that's a silly line, but so does he, and as a result, you can't help but believe him, with a big grin on both your faces.

Some folks might criticize New Order for a perceived lack of innovation, and it's true that they aren't making forays into "IDM" or "glitch-hop" or anything like that. The thing is, though, that all of those micro-movements have died off by now, anyway; electronic music has come back full circle to techno and house, and so, New Order's sound is completely up-to-date. With their wonderful, flawless melodies and rock elements, they easily outdo their contemporaries on the dancefloor (this album is much more danceable than its predecessor; half the songs are electronic), and with songs like "Working Overtime" and "Hey Now What You Doing," they also claim the forefront in the recent resurgence of the garage-rock sound. New Order are fifty years old, but sound twenty-five.

A hack writer for the NME contemptuously observed that "Dracula's Castle" has silly lyrics. He then retired to congratulate himself for his own astuteness, but in case he's back now, I've got some news for you, sweet-cheeks: no matter how many albums you review this year, you aren't going to hear a hook half as effortlessly awesome as the buzzing synth line in that same song. In fact, the next time you will hear such a hook will be whenever the next New Order album comes out. If some other band miraculously stumbles across anything like it, they'll play it with none of the variation that New Order bring to it, without the graceful build-up of strings in the end, or the various keyboard, guitar and piano melodies. And their lyrics probably won't be any better than Bernard Sumner's, and they aren't going to sing them with half of his refinement, anyway.

So what about that one amazing, transcendent song? Well, first there's "I Told You So," which starts off with dissonant electronic percussion, and then all of a sudden takes up that universally recognized staccato reggae rhythm, played not with a guitar, but with a cold, gleaming piano. It sounds absolutely awesome, but it only gets better when Sumner starts singing. He gives the song a yearning air, entreating a friend to "cut loose and run away" from a dreary routine with him. Then there's the dark, grinding guitar break, and all sorts of terrific anxious synthesizer melodies, and the feeling is that of two young people who are drawn to some alluring and dangerous lifestyle in the shadowy nightlife of the city. This theme has recurred in Sumner's lyrics ever since "The Perfect Kiss" back in 1984, but here, it sounds more gripping than ever.

It doesn't end there. Just a few songs later comes the beautifully titled "Guilt Is A Useless Emotion." The song opens with frail keyboard tones; the spotlight is centered on them, their very restraint creates dramatic tension, preparing the way for the arrival of one powerful house beat. When Sumner's voice comes in, it becomes the focus of the song; he sings a lyric describing the way in which love can create upheaval in one's life, with a performance epitomizing the excitement, nervousness and bewilderment of someone who has just undergone such an upheaval. The insistent, rushing chorus is in the great tradition of house music, a sort of call-and-response between Sumner and, of course, a sultry female vocalist singing such lines as "I need your love" and "I want you now." And as if that weren't enough, the American release of the album features an alternate mix of this same song as a bonus track. This version is just as good as the original, with even more energy; the vocals remain unchanged, but now there's a surging, distorted synthesizer riff. It's the best thing you'll hear all year.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Touched By The Hand Of God...Finally, April 26, 2005

By 

Masta Booka (Kansas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Waiting for the Sirens' Call (U.S. Bonus Track) (Audio CD)

Someone here mentioned the term "mythology of New Order" and that compelled me to chime in. I'm not sure how the old-time NO fans will take to this, but speaking for myself I'm blown back into the water...this is the real deal, from the pappies of the sound they created, back (once again) to show the new school a few new lessons. I LOVE the sound at play here, from the first track to the last. Of course, I loved "Get Ready" as well...nothing here quite touches the urgency of "Crystal", but instead most tracks stretch to the breaking point...I never wanted anything to end...literally my ears had to re-learn how to listen to this group, and grab ahold for the long haul.

The opening bass of "Hey Joe" rocks my world...literally. "Know What You're Doing" is the funkiest techno-jazz I've ever heard and should be mandatory in every elevator...pronto! "Krafy" just makes me smile, nuff said there. Some people hate it, but "I Told You So" is my favorite track, and a great sequel to "60 mph"...oh man, how much I love this band when they're firing on all cylinders...

From "Dracula's Castle" and "Morning Night and Day" I can't believe how good things are...this is New Order's most complete album I've ever heard...every track is great (yes, even "Working Overtime"). It took me a few listens to really get a hold on things...but this is certainly my favorite ALBUM (in the truest sense of the word) of 2005 so far. I almost shed a tear when the thing ended, as always I wanted more. But then I hit the play button on the old ipod and started over.

Thank you, New Order...thanks for sticking around. New school, are you listening? THIS is how longevity is done...take note!

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars N.O. more waiting..., October 1, 2006

By 

psychomuse - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Waiting for the Sirens' Call (U.S. Bonus Track) (Audio CD)

As a long-time and hard-core NO fan, I could go on and on and on about the greatness of New Order. I could bring up this and that album, which ones are the best or second-best. That would only serve to influence your acceptance or rejection of this review. So I will only provide commentary on this piece of work as it stands on its own. Take away the history of one of the most influential bands ever and regard Waiting for the Sirens' Call for what it is: Perfect.

I don't give many releases such a high rating. When I do, it's for one simple reason- great songwriting. Here it is. New Order, no matter what they have done in the past, has accomplished a perfect "record" here. These guys (literally- alas, Gillian has moved on) have matured and perfected their songwriting craft.

Melodies bleed from every song. Every single song. Arrangements are flawless: with verses, choruses, and bridges coming at you exactly the way you always hoped they would- they get at you quickly and never grow old. They get in you and don't want to leave.

Here are lyrics & rhythms that evoke and provoke the senses and emotions. The playing is gifted and creative, smart and fun. You'll sing along to the bass and guitar parts as often as the vocals. The production shimmers without being too shiny or digital-clean. There's synthesizers and guitars in an embrace that brings old and new musical stylings together to create a brand new baby.

The whole cd just cooks. After a few listens, you'll be completely hooked and won't be able to eject it from whichever player has the good fortune to play it. There's simply no way you cannot love these songs. I dare you not to. If you get it, you'll love it. If you don't, you'll miss it.