Movement came out in 1981, just after the end of Joy Division, so it’s really the very first step of New Order finding their own voice. You can feel the shadow of what came before – there’s still some of that cold, post-punk melancholy—but you also hear them starting to experiment with synths and electronic textures that would define their later work. It’s a band in transition, figuring out how to move forward while carrying their past with them.

The sound is dark and moody, with icy guitar lines, sparse drums, and synths that creep in almost like whispers at first. It’s got that early-’80s post-punk edge, but hints of the danceable electronics that New Order would later become famous for peek through. The overall vibe is thoughtful and a little introspective, but it’s never dull – there’s tension and atmosphere in every track, and it rewards close listening.

Standout tracks like “Dreams Never End” and “Truth” capture that mix of melancholy and hope, while “I’ve Done It Again” shows the band leaning into sharper, more urgent rhythms. You can hear them testing ideas here, ideas that would later explode on Power, Corruption & Lies and Low-Life.

What makes Movement worth revisiting is how raw and immediate it feels. It’s not quite the dance-rock New Order we think of later, but that’s exactly the charm – you get to witness a band in the middle of reinvention. It’s thoughtful, tense, and strangely beautiful, with little moments that stick with you long after the record ends.