Bernard Sumner throws one curveball with his new band, letting unknown Mancunian Jake Evans take a few turns on the mic. Those tracks — particularly “These Changes” — heavily echo Doves’ forceful melancholy, while the others echo, well, New Order. Sumner still has a knack for making dopey lyrics (“Hey, bad man, where are you gonna go?”) sound profound atop guileless Brit-rock jangle and electronic moodiness. There’s no “Blue Monday” or “True Faith” here, but a record that sounds like a cross between Doves and New Order? Not worth complaining about at all.
READ MORE: Q&A with Bernard Sumner
LISTEN/WATCH: New music from Bad Lieutenant