The Other Two & You

THE OTHER TWO: “The Other Two & You” (London)

THE MONIKER may seem dreadfully twee but by naming themselves ‘The Other Two’, Gillian Gilbert and Stephen Morris take a sly swipe at those journalists, deejays and - perhaps – colleagues who’ve attempted to downgrade their role in New Order to that of glorified Andrew Ridgeleys.

While that’s obviously a gross perversion of the facts, there are moments on this surprisingly thirtysomething-ish collection when Bernard Sumner’s aversion to power sharing – particularly in the lyric writing department – stops looking like megalomania and makes perfect sense.

If you think I’m being unduly harsh in dismissing the couple’s talents as wordsmiths, perhaps I can quote you this spectacularly inane couplet from the otherwise immaculate ‘Movin’ On’: “We put the bags in the car and we felt much better/ She wants to drive but I wouldn’t let her/ You’ve got to take what you need, you’ve got to get it right/ Stop for a moment in the morning light.”

Have these words been chosen for their deep poetic resonance or, as I suspect, merely because they rhyme? I could give you a dozen more equally throwaway examples but, rather than labouring the point, let’s just say that Gilbert and Morris aren’t exactly spokespeople for a generation – unless that generation happens to tootle round in Fiat Pandas and aspire to the dinner party circuit.

Despite being closer in spirit to Dollar than Joy Division, The Other Two compensate for their lack of lyrical insight with four minute gems like ‘Tasty Fish’ and recent hit-that-never-was ‘Selfish’ which stray tantalisingly close to the realms of perfect pop.

Elsewhere – ‘The Greatest Thing’ and ‘Innocence’ being prime examples – they come across as a less camp Pet Shop Boys, Gilbert’s girlie vocals stretched over a synth and syndrum backing which rock ‘n’ roll purists will be aghast to learn is almost completely gee-tar free.

Those of you looking for another ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ or ‘Bizarre Love Triangle’ are going to be sorely disappointed but, by way of compensation, The Other Two offer ‘Spirit Level’ which cross-breeds Cabaret Voltaire with the Human League to spawn something that’s at the same time both menacing and insanely hummable.

The closing ‘Loved It’ takes another stab at innovation with various heavily-accented Mancunian types rapping over a no frills electrobeat. Whilst not really extending beyond its novelty value, it does at least prove that Barney and Pete Hook aren’t the only ones in New Order willing to take risks and occasionally fall flat on their faces in the process.

The Other Two & You is hardly a classic but it’s a damn site better than anything Andrew Ridgeley’s ever likely to produce!

• Stuart Clark