I've been wanting to make this post for a while. For the past couple of weeks I havn't been able to get enough of this band or their pragmatically titled debut album "Play Music" which is basically the best thing New Order never released. It's also a lot more.
Full of analogue synths, TR 808 beats, and sparingly used, but heavily reverberated guitars, Thieves Like Us manage to create authentic sounding early eighties pop music that comes across as genuine, as opposed to just an attempt at recreation or revival. This doesnt mean that some won't write TLU off as redundant or strictly a revivalist act, but what I think seperates TLU from such classifications are the modern arrangements and song writing showcased on the album, something which is lacking from alot of other eighties inspired acts, such as many of the artists featured on the Italians Do It Better label. I love the label, but I don't feel TLU are on the same level as far as recreating a genre exactly according to the specifications of an era. And that's a good thing.
In light of this perhaps the distinction of "the new New Order" wasn't exactly the the most accurate one to make. It really doesn't do Thieves Like Us justice, but for the purpose of comparison it'll have to suffice. When you call your band "Thieves Like Us" this sort of thing is bound to happen.
Posted below are a couple of highlights from Play Music, as well as the title track from their more recent 12" , and lastly a remix.
Thieves Like Us - Drugs In My Body
Thieves Like Us - Fass
Thieves Like Us - Really Like To See You Again
Did I mention they are also responsible for some incredible remixes?
This one is my favorite, they took the original which was a fairly typical "electro clash" (whatever that means) song and turned it into sweet, sweet disco.
Miss Kittin & The Hacker - Party In My Head (Thieves Like Us Remix)
