Yet another
New Order compilation? Add
Retro to the dizzying stack of
New Order compilations and best-ofs. Actually, it was the second comp to come out in the last half of 2002 (
International was released in October and contains nearly every song that is on
Retro). With that said,
Retro is probably the most expansive and interesting
New Order compilation since 1987's
Substance. Keeping an eye and ear on the amazing
Joy Division set
Heart and Soul, Rhino stepped in to publish this box as well (that alone will give
Retro a bit more credibility). The packaging is more or less identical to
Heart and Soul's four-CD orientation and comes complete with its own
Peter Saville-directed artwork and 70-plus-page booklet. Unlike the
Joy Division set,
Retro makes no attempt to create a comprehensive or complete look at
New Order's expansive catalog. Rather, it is set up as an ultimate mix tape that might be made for someone's cousin who knows nothing of this band. And like a mix tape, everyone's track list would be different and would probably carry on a different mood. This one is curated by four individual selectors, and each disc carries on with a major theme. The first disc, "POP," is compiled by U.K. journalist
Miranda Sawyer and contains all the major
New Order favorites: "Blue Monday," "Bizarre Love Triangle," "Confusion," and a few minor surprises such as "Brutal" (featured on the Beach soundtrack).
John McCready, journalist and Hacienda DJ, put together a "FAN" disc that contains some moodier album cuts like "Your Silent Face" and "Sooner Than You Think."
Mike Pickering (
M People, Hacienda DJ), selects
New Order's dance-friendly material on the "CLUB" disc. Finally,
Bobby Gillespie (
Primal Scream) picks up some "LIVE" tracks -- which proves to nicely distill
New Order's generally hit-or-miss concert performances. While
Retro may not be a complete necessity ("Blue Monday" and "Bizarre Love Triangle" should never appear on another
New Order disc), it does pull together into one spot enough rarities (nothing too impossible to find, though) and a rather entertaining track list for obsessives. For the uninitiated,
Substance is probably still the best place to start. [A five-disc version was released on a strictly limited basis that held some harder-to-find tracks.] ~ Jack LV Isles, All Music Guide