Blue Monday new order

No. Not the Bangles' 1986 pop hit, 'Manic Monday', but the darker, far more frenetic 'Blue Monday' by New Order. This 1983 track, from the band's album, Power, Corruption & Lies, is an electrifying testament to the genius of the 1980s electronic music.

From the first throbbing bassline to the hypnotic drum machine beats, the song's allure lies in its ability to seamlessly blend dance rhythms with a melancholic undertone. It captures the potent mix of capture'n'release that today - Monday, the day that chips off from the weekend - represents.

Bernard Sumner's haunting vocals, delivered with a detached yet emotive tone, add a human element that contrasts with the mechanical precision of the instrumentation. The lyrics - 'I see a ship in the harbour/ I can and shall obey/ But if it wasn't for your misfortune/ I'd be a heavenly person today' - evoke a sense of longing, while being hypnotised by duty (read: work station).


Use of the Oberheim DMX drum machine and sequenced bassline from the Moog Source synthesiser was revolutionary, and remain influential today. This is a perfect AI-human waltz into the night. Into Tuesday.