Released 28 October 1985 Label Factory - FAC 133 | Format 7", 12" | |
Genre Alternative dance, synthpop Length 7:26 (12" remix)
3:28 (7-inch version)
4:48 (Substance 1987 version) Writer(s) Gillian Gilbert, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris, Bernard Sumner | ||
"Sub-culture", released on 28 October 1985, is the tenth single by New Order. It was the second and final single to feature on their third album, Low-Life.
Contents
Release
The single release, remixed by John Robie, is a drastic departure from the album version of the track. Robie's 12" and 7" single mixes feature more club-oriented, electronic instrumentation and prominent soulful female backing vocals. The lyrics Bernard sings in the remix have an altered line, changing the second verse's lyric "A view without a room" into "A room without a view". The remix was not well received and garnered more attention for Robie's extensive rework, which managed to be less club-friendly than the original album version despite his attempts to input greater melodic range. In spite of the poor reaction and sales, New Order and Robie collaborated for the band's next two singles "Shellshock" and "State of the Nation" (for B-side "Shame of the Nation").
The B-side is an instrumental remix titled "Dub-vulture". A seven-inch edit of the Robie remix taken from the Benelux version of the "Sub-culture" single appears on the group's 1987 compilation, Substance.
A collection of Razormaid remixes of the track were released in 1986, which include additional vocals by Deborah Iyall of Romeo Void.
Making use of the word shaft with its possible sexual connotations, the song seems to be about sexual rejection, loneliness and alienation in an urban environment.
Artwork
"Sub-culture" has only a regular black sleeve, as graphic designer Peter Saville reportedly deemed the mix of the song unworthy of his talents. Saville's input was present only in a P/S/A (Peter Saville Associates) credit for typography.
Track listing
All tracks written by Gillian Gilbert, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner.
UK 7" free with Record Mirror - RM2
- New Order: "Sub-culture" (exclusive remix) – 4:14
- Raymonde: "Jennifer Wants" (exclusive track) – 2:02
- Hipsway: "Bad Thing Longing" (preview from their forthcoming album) – 4:09
- Adventures: "Walk Away Renee" (specially recorded for RM) – 3:11