New Order are beginning a new era with a legendary British indie record label. The Manchester group announced Tuesday that it signed with Mute Records—whose roster past and present have included Depeche Mode, Erasure, Moby, Goldfrapp, and Zola Jesus—and that its next album will be released through the company. "New Order are delighted to be signing to Mute," said the band in a statement. "We couldn't imagine a better place to be than working with [Mute founder] Daniel Miller and his team. Mute has a superb roster of artists and a history that complements our own. In many ways joining the label feels like we are coming home, returning to our independent roots." Added Miller: "When the possibility of us working together first came up, I was invited to hear some of the new material and immediately had no doubts whatsoever that Mute would be the right home for New Order." The band reunited a few years ago and toured without original bassist Peter Hook, who is now leading his own group The Light. Meanwhile, New Order singer and guitarist Bernard Sumner is releasing his memoir, Chapter And Verse (New Order, Joy Division And Me), this September.
