A great leap forward from their funereal debut album, Power, Corruption & Lies cemented New Order's place as the most exciting dance-rock hybrid in music (and it didn't even include the massive "Blue Monday" single, released earlier that year). Confident and invigorating where Movement had sounded disconsolate and lost, the record simply pops with energy from the beginning "Age of Consent," an alternative pop song with only a smattering of synthesizers overlaying an assured Bernard Sumner, who took his best vocal turn yet. Unlike the hordes of synth pop acts then active, New Order experimented heavily with their synthesizers and sequencers. What's more, while most synth pop acts kept an eye on the charts when writing and recording, if New Order were looking anywhere (aside from within), it was the clubs -- "The Village" and "586" had most of the technological firepower of the mighty "Blue Monday." But whenever the electronics threatened to take over, Peter Hook's grubby basslines, Bernard Sumner's plaintive vocals, and Stephen Morris' point-perfect drum fills reintroduced the human element. Granted, they still had the will for moodiness; the second track was "We All Stand," over five minutes of dubbed-out melancholia. Aside from all the bright dance music and production on display, Power, Corruption & Lies also portrayed New Order's growing penchant for beauty: "Your Silent Face" is a sublime piece of electronic balladry. ~ John Bush

Opening with the insistent guitar figure of "Age Of Consent," POWER, CORRUPTION & LIES immediately makes its mission clear: an economical album (its eight tracks barely break 40 minutes), PC&L truly shows a band at the top of its game. Striking a perfect blend between man and machine, the simple, hook-laden guitar work of vocalist Bernard Sumner and thundering yet melodic bass of Peter Hook form a warm, organic center, around which is wrapped an ocean of rich, inventive keyboard textures.

Within the cohesive, unified musical vision of POWER, CORRUPTION & LIES are contained many definitive New Order moments: "Your Silent Face" is epic in scope, from its otherworldy throb and lush synth pads straight down to its emotive melodica theme and resigned, understated melody. The wild, danceable "Ecstasy" foreshadowed the club culture that the band was to help inaugurate with its angular instrumentation and relentless synth riffing. The bittersweet closer "Leave Me Alone" features one of Sumner's most tender melodies atop a backdrop of ringing, intertwining twin guitars and halting drumbeat.