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Review: In the summer of 2017, New Order returned to Granada Studios in Manchester - the site of their first TV appearance - to perform a special concert. With the accompaniment of a "12-piece synthesizer orchestra" and a stunning, ever-changing stage set designed by Liam Gillick, the legendary Manchester band delivered an extended set featuring radically reworked versions of tracks from their back catalogue. This evocative live album presents the recording of the concert in its entirety, with Bernard Sumner and company mixing bona fide hits ("Shellshock", "Bizarre Love Triangle") with album tracks, lesser-celebrated songs and the odd stunning soundscape (a particularly beautiful version of "Elegia"). As you'd expect, it's superb and a cut above most live albums.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corners of outer sleeve, product unopened & in excellent condition***


The remastered reissues of New Order classics continues with this 1984 gem 'Thieves Like Us' (the title is taken from the Robert Altman movie). It originally landed, of course, on Factory and like all that label's releases, comes with a Peter Saville designed cover, based on a painting by Giorgio de Chirico. It's the band's seventh single and the remastering job has been done from the original master tapes at Abbey Road Studios. The title track is a typically forlorn affair to start, but it erupts into a more joyous and life-affirming sing along. 'Lonesome Tonight' is as low key and wallowsome as the name suggests.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve, product unopened & in excellent condition***


Although the single that followed it, 'Blue Monday', remains New Order's most significant and influential club cut, 'Confusion' is every bit as impactful. It was recorded with Arthur Baker and John Robie, and mixed by John 'Jellybean' Benitez, and saw the Manchester band turn their hand to the then brand-new sound of New York electro. As this re-mastered reissue proves, the track still sounds superb, offering a unique mix of the band's usual hazy, post Joy Division guitars, evocative Bernard Summer vocals and ultra-tough beats from Baker and Robie. As it did first time around, the full-length mix (A1) comes backed by two dub-style club revisions ('Confusion (Instrumental)' and the sparse, effects-laden B-boy classic 'Confused Beats'), as well as the demo version (the 'Rough Mix').