Live Review: Peter Hook & The Light

Estranged from New Order since 2007, (the lengthy legal process of which concluded just recently without public disclosure as to the details), Peter Hook is finally free to do what the bloody hell he wants - like he has done in fantastic style since embarking on a series of tours performing the Joy Division and New Order catalogues (stopping short of 1989's Technique - perhaps Hooky doesn't want to concede that to be the last real happy one). This latest gallivant wrapped up and celebrated the two Substance compilations with almost inevitable audaciousness.

Flipping the chronology, the New Order set came first, front-loaded with Dreams Never End, Procession and Cries & Whispers as early career treats draped in that fluid darkness the band possessed as they transitioned from one band to another. Hooky's son Jack Bates recreated his dad's trademark growling bass brilliantly and drummer Paul Kehoe held his own against Stephen Morris' once declared aspirations "to be a drum machine". Vocal performances would be key in making or breaking the songs tonight though. In tone and twisted tenderness, David 'Pottsy' Potts (Hooky's brother in arms through the Revenge and Monaco years) has always been an incredible Barney to Hooky's take on the late Ian Curtis. As such, the further into Substance the band got, the more the songs craved Potts to take the lead. His turns on Confusion and Thieves Like Us were spot on. Yet on this tour, his moments to shine were held back with Hooky himself claiming the lion's share of lead vocals. It was occasionally an odd move which while still full-bodied, robbed State Of The Nation and Temptation of some real weight. However, after a tear-inducingly magical True Faith and 1963, it was in the Joy Division set where Hooky's voice was really at home.

Holding back the Substance chronology with a five-song diversion that included No Love Lost and Isolation, Warsaw's clarion call "3-5-0-1-2-5, go!" reminded us that Joy Division could also 'go mad'. The drudgery of a lost and greyed Manchester in the '70s was so vividly brought to life in Digital and Autosuggestion's ghostly howl. The evenings' highlight came mid-set with an explosive double whammy of Transmission and She's Lost Control.

While not one word is uttered all night of any of the fallen heroes in the New Order story, Atmosphere is dedicated to Irish comedian Sean Hughes who died the day before.

Peter Hook has proven perfectly capable of matching the passion shown by the fans in his tributes to an incredible body of work. What next though? Those Revenge and Monaco catalogues must seem quite tempting. It would be a very New Order thing to do.