New Order: eschewing heritage rock for a conceptual synth orchestra

Not for New Order the safe haven of a classic album tour. Instead, the band are artfully reconfiguring their back catalogue. ‘Creative people like to do something new,’ says Bernard Sumner.It’s not easy being the vanguard of technology. When Joy Division metamorphosed into New Order after the death of singer Ian Curtis in 1980, the band found a new direction by exploring the possibilities of synthesizers and decided, with misplaced confidence, to take the machines on tour. &ldq