as synthpop pioneers. David Quantick of Uncut called it a "powerfully contradictory album: not only is it an Ibiza record that's New Order's least techno-ey, but it's a chirpy, upbeat album with mature lyrics". The A.V. Clubs Josh Modell referred to Technique as New Order's "last truly great album", as did BBC Music's Ian Wade, who added that the album showed "a New Order ready for the next decade, adding to their already superb reputation." Keith Gwillim of Stylus Magazine contended that New Order "may have made better records, but none of them defines them, sounds so quintessentially like what they were always reaching for, quite as well as Technique." Tom Ewing of Pitchfork labelled Technique "magnificent" in 2008 and stated that the album "takes the easy interplay and full-band sound of Brotherhood and drenches it in good Ibiza vibes". However, he criticised the Collector's Edition bonus material as containing only "listless B-sides and instrumentals, and merely functional remixes". Technique has been listed by several publications as one of the best albums of the 1980s and of all time. In 2006, Q magazine placed the album at number 21 on its list of the "40 Best Albums of the '80s". NME ranked the album at number 122 on its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time in 2013. The album is also included in Robert Dimery's book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Track listing Personnel New Order Bernard Sumner – vocals, guitars, melodica, synthesizers and programming Peter Hook – 4- and 6-stringed bass, electronic percussion, synthesizers and programming Stephen Morris – drums, synthesizers and programming Gillian Gilbert – synthesizers, guitars and programming Technical New Order – production Michael Johnson – engineer Richard Chappell – assistant engineer Aaron Denson – assistant engineer Richard Evans – assistant engineer Trevor Key – cover design Alan Meyerson – mixing Peter Saville – cover design Charts Weekly charts Year-end charts Certifications References Sources External links Album online on Radio3Net a radio channel of Romanian Radio Broadcasting Company Acid house albums New Order (band) albums 1989 albums Factory Records albums