I transferred my old vinyl version of New Order’s “Substance 1987″ to mp3 today.

I had almost forgotten how much I like that album. It’s a collection of songs dating from 1981 to 1987, documenting their shift from a mainly guitar-based sound in 1981 towards a much more synth-driven soundscape by the end of the 1980s.

What originally attracted my attention to New Order, was the original version of “True Faith”, still a near-perfect pop tune in my ears. But as I listened more closely to the album, I became more and more fascinated with the first two sides (remember, it’s a double vinyl album) and especially the first two tracks, “Ceremony” and “Everything’s Gone Green”. I love playing those tracks out loud on my stereo. They still sound so crisp, 25 years after, and the crackles n’ pops from my vinyl version simply enhance the listening experience.

I used to play this and Pet Shop Boys’ “Actually” all the time in 1987-88, and I remember Neil Tennant said in an interview something to the effect that he would’ve killed to come up with the opening line in “True Faith”:

I feel so extraordinary
something’s got a hold on me
I get this feeling I’m in motion
a sudden sense of liberty

It’s a brilliant lyric, but Tennant’s certainly had his share of brilliant lyrics, too, so he’s got nothing to complain about.

I remember playing “Substance” to a friend in 1987 (we were 16.) He looked at me, skeptically, and shook his head. “I don’t understand this kind of music, it’s just… weird. It’s kind of disco, right? Here, let me play you something I’ve got [pulling out the latest Chris De Burgh record], now here’s some real music - he’s got brilliant melodies, great arrangements and he tells stories… nothing like the crap you listen to.”

I guess Chris De Burgh does all the things that my friend claimed he did, but he just didn’t get it, did he? Imagine a 16 year old kid today playing Chris De Burgh to show you what good music is, though. Ha ha.

But I must give my friend some credit for having established a few very good and valid criteria for seeking out good music at an early age.