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This album combines an evolution of their longtime sound with other tracks that try new things. And take risks. Clearly, New Order still have a lot of creative energy. Producer Craig Silvey (who produces Arcade Fire, among others) seems to have gotten on well with the band. Much better than "Sirens" (despite "Sirens' great title track), we see what they can do when they aren't bogged down with internal squabbling. Here, the band members sound much more enthusiastic about and engaged with their work. More willing to try new things, perhaps no longer fearful of offending touchy egos. This is the freshest sounding album NO has released since "Technique." Bernard is still one of the UK's best melodists.Briefly, through the individual tracks.Restless: A great single that harkens back to "Dream Attack" off "Technique." This track updates New Order's distinctive melancholic euphoria for the 21st century and informs us straight off that the band have moved forward. This ain't a cash-grab nostalgia album.Singularity: Produced by Chemical Brother Tom Rowlands, a dark dance track that begins with a brooding Joy Division lead before accelerating into thrilling, contemporary dance music. One of their best ever.Plastic: The creators of "True Faith" give a nod to Giorgio Moroder and Donna Summer, whose work inspired the band's original shift to dance music in the early 1980s. This track immediately joins the ranks of NO's all-time best dance tracks. Back to the harsh lyrics of early New Order. Aimed at Hooky?Tutti Fruitti: Reminiscent of "Fine Time." Fun Italo-disco house music with background vocal from La Roux's Elly Jackson. Will be a favorite at parties.People on the High Line: Chapman eschews the Hooky-inspired bass for 21st century update of Chic. Sounds like it could have been an Electronic single. Love it.Stray Dog: Iggy Pop growls a poem (!) about unconditional love to music that sounds like the soundtrack of a David Lynch movie's 3:00 a.m. club scene. Some reviewers have slagged this, and it doesn't sound like classic New Order. But I think it works well. Nice to see them trying new things.Academic: One of the few guitar-oriented tracks. The bleakly beautiful guitar hook in this is one of the album's most memorable treasures.Nothing but a Fool: Another departure from the usual New Order sound. Could disappoint some long-time fans. But I like it. An acoustic intro leads to something that sounds like a collaboration with Sonic Youth. And then lush synths and vocals. Good stuff.Unlearn this Hatred: Unmistakably produced by Rowlands. DJs will have much fun mixing passages from this one.The Game: Listenable, familiar New Order sound. But not as remarkable as most of the other tracks.Superheated: My least favorite track. Loads of other people like this. But to me it sounds like Brandon Flowers tried just too hard to impress his idols.