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.