# ‘Power, Corruption and Lies’: the true story behind the title of New Order’s most mysterious album

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/power-corruption-and-lies-the-true-story-behind-the-title-of-new-orders-most-mysterious-album/
- Published: 2026-11-15T14:00:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-15T14:20:38+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/power-corruption-and-lies-story-behind-new-order-mysterious-album/
- Topics: Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- The album title came from text on the back of Orwell’s *1984*.
- Stephen Morris dismissed the German art gallery story.
- The record paired darker themes with a hopeful turn towards dance.

## Summary

New Order’s 1983 album *Power, Corruption and Lies* marked a deeper move into electronic music and helped establish the sound that would become central to the band. Its title has often been read as a political statement about Thatcher-era Britain, but Stephen Morris said it came from a description on the back of George Orwell’s *1984*, which Peter Hook was reading.

The article says the title’s origins were less mysterious than fan theories suggested, including a story about a visit to a German art gallery, which Morris dismissed. It argues that the album’s darker tone reflected the unsettled period around the band’s transition from Joy Division, while its music also offered listeners a sense of hope and helped New Order find their way towards dance.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.