Low-life

About

As the members of New Order approached their third full-length album, the group was nearing another crossroads—though one not nearly as consequential as its members had faced following Joy Division’s tragic demise. Having slowly shed the sullen elements of post-punk in favor of more affirmative dance rock, New Order had landed several beloved club-oriented single, including the Arthur Baker-assisted “Confusion,” and found critical acclaim with 1983’s <i>Power, Corruption and Lies</i>, which yielded the unexpected smash “Blue Monday.” New Order’s next step, obviously, was to aim for the star. Despite being courted by folks like David Geffen—who was eager to capitalize on the band’s potential—the band members chose to work with relative newcomer Tom Atencio, and signed with Quincy Jones’ Qwest Record. Considering the label’s roster included R&B star Patti Labelle, soap-opera sex symbol Jack Wagner, and an arguably past-his-prime Frank Sinatra, it wasn’t the most obvious home for the post-punkers-turned-synth-savant. Yet <i>Low-Life</i>, released in 1985, was proof that New Order was never going to take the easy route. While the bandmates agreed to promote the album with a big lead-off single—an industry-standard practice they’d so far shunned—they did so with a caveat, releasing an 8-minute-long thumper, “The Perfect Ki,” that didn’t exactly lend itself to radio play. And while <i>Low-Life</i>’s “Sub-culture” took its rhythms from Latin freestyle music, its lyrics focused on London fetish club. .

via Apple Music

The Clerk says

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