Description
New Order – Power, Corruption and Lies – 180 Gram Vinyl Record
Released on May 2, 1983, Power, Corruption & Lies is the second studio album by New Order, marking a pivotal moment in their evolution from the post-punk gloom of Joy Division to the dance-driven, electronic sound that would define them as one of the most influential bands of the 1980s. Following the tragic death of Ian Curtis and the dissolution of Joy Division, New Order had begun to experiment with synthesizers and drum machines, moving away from their dark, guitar-based roots. With Power, Corruption & Lies, the band fully embraced synth-pop, dance music, and electronic textures, while still retaining the melancholic undertones and emotional depth of their past work.
Musically, the album blends synth-heavy, club-ready tracks with guitar-driven post-punk, creating a seamless fusion of organic and electronic elements. The opening track, “Age of Consent,” is a jittery, bass-driven anthem that showcases Peter Hook’s signature melodic basslines, while “Your Silent Face” is a hauntingly beautiful, Kraftwerk-inspired synth ballad, featuring cryptic lyrics and a lush, cinematic atmosphere. Tracks like “Ultraviolence” and “The Village” retain an angular, Joy Division-esque energy, but with an added layer of rhythmic urgency and electronic precision. Meanwhile, “5 8 6” serves as a direct precursor to their later club hit “Blue Monday,” experimenting with layered synth loops and robotic drum patterns. The album closes with “Leave Me Alone,” a wistful, guitar-driven track that provides a moment of emotional reflection amid the album’s otherwise dance-forward momentum.
One of the most notable aspects of Power, Corruption & Lies is its absence of “Blue Monday,” New Order’s massive dancefloor hit, which was recorded during the same sessions but released separately as a standalone 12-inch single. Despite this, the album was a commercial and critical success, solidifying New Order’s reputation as pioneers of post-punk-meets-electronic music. The iconic album cover, designed by Peter Saville, features a reproduction of a 19th-century painting of flowers, deliberately avoiding traditional text or band imagery—a stark contrast to the futuristic sounds within.
Regarded as one of the greatest albums of the 1980s, Power, Corruption & Lies was instrumental in shaping the sound of alternative dance, synth-pop, and electronic rock, influencing countless bands and genres. It remains a landmark release, bridging the dark romanticism of post-punk with the pulse of club culture, and setting the stage for New Order’s later masterpieces like Low-Life (1985) and Technique (1989).
London Records
Includes a code to download MP3 version of this album
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Age Of Consent
We All Stand
The Village
5 8 6
Your Silent Face
Ultraviolence
Ecstasy
Leave Me Alone
