REVENGE

Peter Hook's first side-project appeared in 1989 with the release of the EP, 7 Reasons, a three-track taster of things to come. The title-track resembled New Order's Brotherhood-era output, while Jesus I Love You offered a glimpse of the brutal electro-beats awaiting casual listeners of the band's only album. Formed as a result of New Order's hiatus, partly prompted after Sumner's intention to head off to form Electronic, Hook's desire to continue with his own project took over and Revenge became a joint venture with David Potts.

One True Passion is a mixed, but rewarding, bag that growls where Electronic perhaps only chirruped. Highlights included Pineapple Face, It's Quiet, Slave and Big Bang, while the remaining sounds veered from sleazy biker-chic to cumbersome rock in equal measure. Perhaps not as dexterous as Sumner's offerings, Hook's bull-nosed creative boasted power and precision and a decent cover of John Cale's Amsterdam (found on the Pineapple Face single). The LTM double CD is really worth getting for the entire Revenge output (more or less).

This review also appeared on Flipside Reviews

Paul PLEDGER
02/12/2014