Republic (album)

Republic
Studio album by New Order
Released	3 May 1993
Recorded	1992 at Real World Studios, Box, Wiltshire, RAK Studios, London
Genre	Alternative rock, alternative pop,[1] techno-pop[2]
Length	47:37
Label	London
Producer	Stephen Hague, New Order
New Order chronology
Technique (1989) Republic (1993) (the best of) New Order (1994)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Blender	[3]
Robert Christgau	[4]
Rolling Stone	[5]

Republic is the sixth studio album by the English rock band New Order. Released in 1993 by London Records, it is their first album released after the demise of Factory Records, and their last for eight years.

The album reached number one in the UK, their last album to do so. It also received a Mercury Music Prize nomination. The album's lead single, "Regret", is also New Order's last top-five hit in their home country.

The band went on hiatus following a gig at the Reading Festival promoting the album in August 1993. Lead vocalist Bernard Sumner is known to not like travelling to North America, and media reports suggest that the pressure of the long leg there contributed to the band's temporary demise. The band reunited in 1998.

Artwork

The album follows on the standard New Order principles of not having anything other than the credits and art inside the CD sleeve, and of having a Peter Saville-designed cover. The sleeve itself is a reference to the US, and in particular, California, where Saville had relocated. The sleeve displays different aspects of California—people relaxing on the beach, while some people's houses are being burnt down (a reference to frequent wildfires experienced in the state or perhaps to the 1992 Los Angeles riots); vast natural landscapes, contrasting to the skyline of Los Angeles, etc. Another interesting dimension is that most images were taken from stock photo libraries to achieve the commercial look and heavily retouched. Several of these images have also been used in the most low-brow form of marketing, e.g., direct mailing, catalogues, and adverts for businesses. Another interpretation of the album's artwork alludes to the fall of Rome.^[6]

Republic – The Limited Run..

A limited-edition version of the Republic album, entitled Republic – The Limited Run.., was also released in the United States. Although the tracks are the same as the normal release, the packaging is entirely different. Instead of a jewel case, the CD comes in a folding wallet made of bright orange vinyl underpadded with soft foam, giving it the feel of an inner tube. The CD's label is also redesigned, with no words but with a picture of several orange rubber inner tubes against a background of flames, a reference to the cover artwork. The booklet, tucked into a pocket of the vinyl wallet, is the same as the standard version, but made of a plastic waterproof material instead of paper.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Gillian Gilbert, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris, Bernard Sumner and Stephen Hague. 

Personnel

• Bernard Sumner – vocals, guitars, synthesizers and programming
• Peter Hook – 4 and 6-stringed bass, synthesizers and programming
• Stephen Morris – drums, synthesizers and programming
• Gillian Gilbert – synthesizers and programming
• New Order – production
• Stephen Hague – production
• Pascal Gabriel – pre-production on "Regret" and "Young Offender"
• Andy Duncan – additional programming
• Audrey Riley – cello, string arrangements
• David Rhodes – additional guitar
• Dee Lewis – backing vocals
• Mike 'Spike' Drake – engineer
• Owen Morris – engineer
• Richard Chappell – engineer
• Simon Gogerly – engineer
• Ben Findlay – assistant engineer
• Sam Hardaker – assistant engineer
• Peter Saville – art direction (designed at Pentagram)

Chart positions

Album charts

Singles charts – Billboard (USA)^[15]

References