TRACK OF THE NIGHT: Age Of Consent

New Order / Age Of Consent

This, the opener to New Order's second album Power, Corruption & Lies is simply wonderful. An understated classic, Age Of Consent really is timeless. Depicting the struggle in a relationship when an age difference stops a pair from "doing" it, Age Of Consent doesn't deal with its subject matter through exaggerated emotion or extreme melodrama, instead we get a very human portrayal of frustration with lead singer Bernard ending by repeatedly singing: "I've lost you / I've lost you / I've lost you / I've lost you / I've lost you". It's all strangely beautiful, helped enormously by the track's fantastic arrangement in which we hear a sublime set of guitars mixed around some luscious 80s synths which not only create a radiant sound but also give the track a great big heart. Synths and emotion aren't always the most successful of combinations but in Age Of Consent New Order rewrite the rules by making a song which is both poignant in feeling and inventive in style. Marvellous.

New Order / Age Of Consent  by  ShornStarMan