New Order – Brotherhood M/NM

Released on 29 September 1986 by Factory Records, Brotherhood was the band’s fourth studio album, recorded in London, Dublin, and Liverpool. Conceptually, it was divided into two halves: one side leaning toward post‑punk guitar textures, the other toward electronic dance rhythms. This duality reflected tensions within the group, with Peter Hook later remarking that “there were battles raging on Brotherhood”.

The album opens with “Paradise,” a driving rock track, and continues with songs like “Weirdo” and “Broken Promise,” which emphasize guitars and a rawer band sound. In contrast, the electronic side includes “All Day Long” and “Angel Dust,” where sequencers and synths dominate. The standout track is “Bizarre Love Triangle,” which became New Order’s breakthrough single in the United States and Australia, cementing their reputation as pioneers of synth‑pop.

The sleeve, designed by Peter Saville and Trevor Key, features a photograph of a sheet of titanium‑zinc alloy, a stark industrial image that mirrors the album’s split personality. Critics at the time noted the record’s unevenness, with drummer Stephen Morris later admitting the rock/electronic division “didn’t quite work”. Yet, despite its flaws, Brotherhood remains significant for crystallizing the band’s dual impulses: the legacy of Joy Division’s guitar‑based intensity and their growing mastery of electronic dance music.