Brotherhood marked a pivotal moment in New Order’s evolution, balancing the sharp edges of their post-punk roots with the sleek pulse of electronic music. Released on September 29, 1986, through Factory Records, the album was conceptually divided between two sides: one driven by guitars, the other by synthesizers. This duality reflected a band comfortable operating between worlds, experimenting with texture and tone while maintaining their trademark melodic melancholy. The standout single “Bizarre Love Triangle” became their first major breakthrough in the United States and Australia, securing the group’s foothold in the emerging synth-pop mainstream.
Visually, Brotherhood bore Peter Saville’s minimalist aesthetic—a photograph of a titanium-zinc alloy sheet, some editions presented in an actual metallic sleeve—underscoring the record’s industrial elegance. Tracks such as “All Day Long,” which draws on motifs from Wagner’s Das Rheingold, highlight the group’s willingness to weave classical grandeur into electronic frameworks. Meanwhile, the album closer “Every Little Counts” ends with a playful, self-referential vinyl skip, offering a glimpse of humor amid their often austere image. This blend of wit, experimentation, and atmosphere exemplified New Order’s command of mood and motion, placing them at the vanguard of 1980s music innovation.
Upon release, critics praised the album’s finesse and sonic range. Robert Christgau called it “humane” and exhilarating, while Steve Hochman of the Los Angeles Times lauded the band’s ability to craft “atmospheric grooves with more finesse than any contemporary computer-rocker.” Retrospective assessments recognize Brotherhood as a transitional yet essential work—John Bush of AllMusic noted that, while less urgent than their earlier records, its confidence and craftsmanship cemented New Order’s place as pioneers of modern rock and dance music.
TRACKLIST:
A1        Paradise
A2        Weirdo
A3        As It Is When It Was
A4        Broken Promise
A5        Way Of Life
B1        Bizarre Love Triangle
B2        All Day Long
B3        Angel Dust
B4        Every Little Counts