JOY DIVISION/ NEW ORDER

Total: From Joy Division To New Order

Twin career-spanning compilation newly available on vinyl

Originally released in June 2011, when New Order were still locked in legal dispute and seemed unlikely ever to perform again, Total is a lightly disguised greatest-hits collection with the minor novelty angle of commemorating two legendary post-punk bands instead of just one. Newly pressed on vinyl for the first time, this fairly functional compilation still feels frustratingly selective. Of course, it is hard to argue with some of the greatest singles of all time, from the liturgical majesty of “Atmosphere” to the towering electro melodrama of “Bizarre Love Triangle” and the lustrous midlife melancholy of “Regret”. Then again, the eccentrically curated tracklisting ignores some juicy classics, including “Confusion”, “Touched By The Hand Of God”, “1963” and “Sub-culture”. Seven years ago, the inclusion of three lacklustre guitar-heavy cuts from New Order’s two post-reunion 2000s albums felt like cynical commerce at work. With the band now triumphantly rebooted and reactivated, “Crystal” at least has aged with a certain grace, becoming a fixture in recent live shows. But the choice of lumbering plodder “Hellbent” over far superior singles from the same period like “Waiting For The Sirens’ Call” or “Here To Stay” is another baffling decision. An inessential primer for casual fans.