"Technique" is the fifth studio album by English rock band New Order, released in 1989 through Factory Records. This album was crafted in the wake of their newfound success following the release of their groundbreaking single "Blue Monday." Technique was noted as a shift in their musical style, introducing elements of acid house, Balearic beat and techno music. The mix of rock with electronica has made it one of the quintessential albums of the Madchester and baggy cultural scene that emerged out of the UK in the late-1980s.
All members of the group participated in songwriting and production, with each song originally intended to be a dance track. It marked a step away from their previously darker tonalities and featured more upbeat and optimistic songs. This album was New Order's first to reach number one in the UK Albums Chart, with the prominent singles "Fine Time" and "Round & Round." The lyrics adress themes of love, sex, and relationships making a turning point in the band's lyrical content, partly due to Bernard Sumner's newfound confidence after quitting his substance dependencies.
Despite the internal struggles within the band, including recreational drug use and relationship breakdowns during its creation, Technique was met with widespread acclaim. Though there was internal strife and tension during the recording process in Ibiza-an island notorious for its club scene-the band still managed to embark on a sold out American tour shortly after the release of the album.
The cover design, credited to the band's long-term associates Peter Saville and Trevor Key, features a painting of a cherub, which was sourced from a postcard found by the band members in a Zurich bric-a-brac store while on tour. It is then supplemented by computer graphics to showcase a stylistic clash between new and old. The technique employed by New Order for this particular album design was a reflection of their pioneering nature in merging different musical styles.
