By 1994, I only knew two things about New Order: frente!’s cover of bizarre love triangle was perfect and regret sounded weird. Not in a weird huh kinda way, just weird.

It was a polished song that had an edge. It was pop with teeth. Nothing like New Order was on the radio, and eventually worked my way back on their catalogue. The farther back I went, the darker the music got.

New Order and Nine Inch Nails were my gateway into Joy Division. One due to heritage, the other paying their dues. Both bands were a remembrance of what Ian Curtis was conveying with his lyrics, both with different techniques to transmit.

It’s weird. I don’t usually listen to Regret and I remember not being impressed with Republic once I bought it. Both the song and the album are weird moments in New Order’s career. We all go through those strange phases I guess.

-Sam J Valdés López