Cripes!

Big day over at Mute Records: the legendary independent label have signed dance-rock mainstays New Order. The news was announced by Mute boss Daniel Miller at a press conference earlier today.

The band’s next record – their 10th, if you include last year’s offcuts set Lost Sirens – will be their first since Peter Hook’s acrimonious departure circa 2007. According to Sumner, the band’s new record will see them tilt the emphasis back in favour of the dancefloor:

“We made a conscious decision with this next set of material for it to be more synth and dance-based. More dance orientated and keyboard orientated. We’re pretty excited about that.”

Miller – whose previous signings include Depeche Mode, Swans, Plastikman and Nick Cave – has spoken about the process behind the link-up:

“This is an exciting new chapter for both Mute and New Order and I feel privileged to be working with artists with such a long, creative and successful history. When the possibility of us working together first came up, I was invited to hear some of the new material and immediately had no doubts whatsoever that Mute would be the right home for New Order. We’ve already had a number of creative conversations, and I am looking towards an exciting future.”

The news followed rumours yesterday, apparently confirmed by Sumner, that the band have been working with James Murphy – something Murphy’s label DFA have since flatly denied.