Pitchfork

Despite some previous skepticism here at Pitchfork, New Order seem to be set to release their next album early in 2005, a mere three-and-a-half years after the release of their most recent LP, Get Ready. Several sources, including the England's Channel 4, say that it is intended to come out as early as February. Worldinmotion.net says that according to "sources close to the band," they were already mixing the finished tracks by November.

The only song with an announced title, "Sugarcane", was reportedly produced by Tore Johansson, whose previous credits include the Cardigans' "Lovefool" and Franz Ferdinand's self-titled album. Brit guitar pop's standby producers, Stephen Street and John Leckie, handled the rest of it; the band apparently worked with Kylie Minogue's producer as well, but that collaboration wasn't completed in time to be considered for the new record.

For over-the-hill Glastonbury all-stars, the boys of New Order have actually been pretty busy-- in addition to finishing an album, Bernard Sumner and Peter Hook appeared on Gwen Stefani's solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby., which Stefani, who's apparently a fan, said was the result of "kind of stalking those guys." (Allow us to remind you of Pitchfork reviewer Nick Sylvester's verdict on the resulting song: "Anyone remotely involved with "The Real Thing" should find a stray dog and let it bite him.") Nor is Stefani alone in her affections; Moby has said that one of the two albums he hopes to put out in the spring will contain a cover of a mystery song that, from the hints given on his blog, is probably New Order's "Temptation".

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