Album of the Day

When New Order started work on their first album at Strawberry Studios in Stockport,England,band members were still raw from the loss of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis. Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook and Stephen Morris (plus newcomer Gillian Gilbert) evince some of their old band's Manchester melancholy, but Movement also shows the group members stretching their legs creatively. Its eight tracks include the near-pop opener “Dreams Never End,” one of a couple songs here sung by Hooky, whose bass playing displays the sense of melody that would mark New Order's music from then on. Produced by Martin Hannett, who'd helmed Joy Division's albums, Movement may be a transitional work, but it's one whose reputation has only grown over the years.