Technique

Released in 1989, Technique is New Order's fifth studio album and their final full-length release on the legendary Factory Records. Recorded primarily at Mediterranean Studios in Ibiza, the album is heavily influenced by the island's burgeoning Balearic beat and acid house scenes. This influence is most apparent on tracks like 'Fine Time', which features vocal processing and Roland TB-303 sequences. However, the album is equally famous for its 'rock' side, featuring some of the band's most accomplished guitar-based songwriting in tracks like 'Run' and 'All the Way'. This duality reflects the internal creative tension between Bernard Sumner, who favored electronic experimentation, and Peter Hook, who championed a more traditional band dynamic. Critically, the album was a major success, becoming the band's first UK Number 1. It is widely regarded by critics as their most balanced and consistent work, successfully bridging the gap between the indie-rock of their past and the electronic future of the 1990s.