I think it might be tempting for Peter to record his bass over the song just to show how it's done. And to piss Bernard off.

I have to say that I love it. Liked it from the first time I listened to it. The same feeling I had after listening to so many other great New Order tracks. The intro, the keyboards on the background, Steve's tight drumming and also the heavy Joy Division-esque bassline (I can see that playing all these amazing Hooky basslines really inspired Tom Chapman on this song, but who can blame him for that?). I also love the way Bernard has laid the vocals, I really can't remember another song where he sang like this and I just can't get enough of it. Realy looking forward to the new album!

Edited by user 01 August 2015 07:44:14(UTC)  | Reason: Got the bass player name wrong, sorry!

Interesting - at least that sleeve confirms that this is one of the tracks with live strings on it.

Really like the track, btw.

How can I go forward when I don't know which way I'm facing?

Restless is magnificent, classic New Order. It took a few listens for me to realise it's brilliance, which is usually the way with New Order - majestically off the cuff and understated. A band who last put out a single proper 10 years ago has the balls to have in the lyrics "I couldn't care less/Can't be a success". Fucking genius. And the subject matter is about the restlessness of the human condition, how we are never satisfied and feel at the bottom of our soul that there's something missing even if we've got everything. But they'd probably say something like "er, it's just a punk song", which is just as profound. I've been a fan since I first saw them 07/02/1981 so I know what to expect, always confounding expectations but somehow always the same too. It's a great tune too.

At first listen to this I was really disappointed, thought it was typical late period New Order solid track but nothing special. However after a few plays I've done a complete U-turn and think it's absolutely brilliant. It's a subtle track and it takes a few listens to pick up on its genius. Definitely the strongest thing they have put out since Crystal, if not Regret. Synths + bass + barney's vocals on the chorus are magic- can definitely see the comparisons to Dream Attack! Somehow Tom Chapman's managed to play a better Hooky-esque bassline than anything Hooky's come up with himself in the last 15 years or so as well.

Hyped for the album now!

I feel increasingly positive about the lyrics. They are catchy and are at times both nonchalant and wistful, showing that Barney's penchant for contradictory sentiments can still be put to thoughtful and effective use. I've played this song at the cafe I work at in Brooklyn, and my co-workers agree it's the best New Order track since Crystal. A small pool to build consensus from, but it's nice to know the more casual fan can get behind the new track.

I'm also really digging Chapman's driving bass style. The relatively clean, warm amp sound helps make the rhythm track feel airtight. Funnily, I hadn't thought of New Order featuring a classic rhythm combo since Technique. Aside from a few tracks on Get Ready, Hooky and Stephen stopped sounding like musicians in real sync with one another. I know some fans are begrudgingly suggesting the track would be much improved by some of Hooky's high melodic lines, but I was starting to find those as bland and predictable as Barney's "Hey, what's happening here" opening lyrics. The most important thing about Restless -- aside from being a *good* song and a convincing New Order one at that -- is that it sounds like the band are no longer on autopilot. The style of the track itself may not be full of surprises, but it's enlivened and smart arrangement is vastly better than the largely belabored stuff on WFTSC / Lost Sirens.

I saw yesterday evening that the 1 track promo was taken down from Ebay (unsold?) before the auction ended.

Wouldn't be surprised if someone connected to Mute or band got involved there.

A £150 Buy It Now was an immensely greedy and opportunistic thing to try and pull.

Nice review of Restless I found online.

http://ppcorn.com/us/new-order-restless-single-review/

4.3/5

New Order is currently on track to release their first album in a decade, Music Complete. While the band has debuted several tracks off the album at live shows, yesterday marked the official release of the album’s first single, “Restless,” a rather appropriate title for a song New Order fans have been craving for the better part of ten years.

The song went live on New Order’s YouTube Channel earlier this week, with the video boasting nothing more than modern, minimalist, album art – which we can now assume will be a staple of the new album. Despite their ten year hiatus, “Restless” proves that New Order is ready to come back onto the stage.

The song opens with a melodic elegance, which is sweetly melancholic, and transitions into an almost symphonic lull, which remains a constant throughout all four minutes and thirty seconds of the song. While “Restless” offers something far mellower than New Order’s older work, it’s still undeniably a New Order piece.

“Restless” boasts more guitar the usual, and the melding of the acoustic with the electronic provides a rhythmic harmony which details the trials of greed and what may be a critique of capitalist society. It’s vocalist Bernard Sumner’s quiet voice, which is entirely classic New Order, that gives the lyrics their haunting, alternative tone. “I want a nice car / A girlfriend / Who’s as pretty as a star … But how much do you need.”

With over 100,000 views, the debut of the single might not be ground breaking, but the response has been nothing if not positive. Music Complete is set to feature collaborations with artists Iggy Pop and The Killers’ Brandon Flowers. While the band’s original bassist, Peter Hook, is no longer featured on the roster, Gillian Gilbert will be joining on as pianist.

The song touches on the perils of stagnancy and apathy through both its sound and lyrics: “I feel so restless / Ain’t got no interest / I couldn’t care less / Can’t be a success.” And while one could argue the easy rhythms and simplistic phrasing that make up the overall song might not be as visually strong as some of New Order’s older works, the simplicity and redundancy is perhaps the overall point of the song. “Restless” maintains the moving introspection and conceptual delivery that categorized New Order in the 80s, 90s and early 2000s. At the heart of it, the song is about finding a way out of a monotony; it is about how taking a step back is all it really takes to regain a sense of passion.

I've lived with this track a couple of weeks now, and I've decided the more I hear it, the more I love it, in both its current versions. Perfect understated summer anthem. Text book definition of a "grower". Can't stop the darn thing looping in my head, and can't wait to hear the deluxe extended version.

Classic New Order, and an equally strong first album single to Regret and Crystal. Fantastic stuff.

Edited by user 08 August 2015 15:20:36(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

I am quite happy with Restless. It's a really beautiful song, elegant, full of melody. Steve's drumming is really propulsive and tight, and his Jazz influences really come to the fore here. Gillian's synth melodies are full, bright, and gorgeous, such a welcome return to have her back on keyboards. Tom's baselines establishes a strong, low end melodic groove that is tight on the rhythm end. Tom has a great sense of melody (as you can hear on the BL and Rubberbear stiff he has played on) and he hold down the rhythm well, his contribution is nice.

Bernard and Phil both contribute some understated by tasty guitar work. Bernard's leads are classic. \

I think Bernard's lower vocal register sounds good, and the lyrics are actually quite interesting. Bernard seems to be discussing the rampant materialism and instant gratification that permeates culture today, and as this is something that makes me quite sad (and sometimes angry), it's cool to see a song from NO about it.

The song is low key, I would have preferred they picked something more driving and dance oriented as the first single, but of course, I am also the guy who loves Fine Time, Jetstream, Guilt is a Useless Emotion, and Sugarcane.

But I see why they went with Restless. It's got the classic NO Technique sound, and it's radio friendly and I could see it playing on a lot of modern rock/indie radio stations and shows as well as catching the ears of casual fans on iTunes and Spotify.

I also think that choosing Restless as the first single shows that New Order have tremendous confidence in this new album. Sure, they could have released a more storming, dance oriented single first (as I am sure the album has these tracks), but instead they are going for a slow burn/build promo tactic that is clearly working very well.

I'm truly excited for this album and the ensuing tour!

ZAS

official video trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99tenoGewHw