Vitamin's decision to combine the catalogs of
Joy Division and
New Order for this string tribute is likely sound thinking; as the groups progressed from former to latter, so does this recording. It begins with the most obvious and effective
Joy Division material: "Love Will Tear Us Apart," "She's Lost Control," "Isolation," and "New Dawn Fades." Of these, "Isolation" might work best, since its tension is made even more palpable by the insistent, screeching violins. The set moves into its second half with a stirring and methodically slow version of "Bizarre Love Triangle." The cello, violins, and viola don't do as well with "Blue Monday," but "True Faith" becomes the record's high point with its robust bottom end and plaintive melody. ~ Johnny Loftus