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Age of Consent is the first song from Power, Corruption & Lies, by New Order. The song has been used for many scenes, trailers, and advertisements, and is covered by over 13 bands, likely due to its genre being "jangle pop". Jangle pop was used by the Beatles in the '60s, but brought back in the 1980's for many post-punk songs like this one. New Order does not use jangle pop very often. It has been used in movies and even a few advertisements. A Howie B Remix was made for it in (the rest of) New Order. The "Age of Consent" is the legal age to participate in sexual activity. The song received a music video on 29 December 2020.

Reception and Reviews

Allmusic's Ned Raggett gave this review: "With Peter Hook's instantly recognizable bass setting the tone, "Age of Consent" kicks off both Power, Corruption and Lies and a true start for New Order, leaving the tentative Movement behind for newer vistas. Whether it's Bernard Sumner's conversational, slightly wounded singing - not conventional, but possessed of its own quieter intensity, a fine counterpart to Ian Curtis's dark glower - or the sweet touch of the string synths from Gillian Gilbert, there's a warmth here that Joy Division never quite achieved except towards the very end. The Stephen Morris/Hook rhythm combination leads the song throughout, Sumner's sometimes scratchy, sometimes clipped guitar and a subtle but present drone deep in the mix, presumably also from Gilbert, adding both texture and an extra little kick when needed. Even Sumner's occasional yelps and squeals somehow seem just right - not worried about seeming cool, just finding its own lovely logic to a beautiful song, one of the many numbers that would yet have an impact on more nineties US indie rock that might be thought."[1]

Lyrics

Won't you please let me go
These words lie inside they hurt me so
And I'm not the kind that likes to tell you
Just what I want to do
I'm not the kind that needs to tell you
Just what you want me to
 
I saw you this morning
I thought that you might like to know
I received your message in full a few days ago
I understood every word that it said
And now that I've actually heard it
You're going to regret

And I'm not the kind that likes to tell you
Just what you want me to
You're not the kind that needs to tell me
About the birds and the bees

Do you find this happens all the time
Crucial point one day becomes a crime
And I'm not the kind that likes to tell you
Just what I want to do
I'm not the kind that needs to tell you

Lost you
I've lost you
I've lost you
I've lost you
I've lost you
Lost you
I've lost you
I've lost you
I've lost you
I've lost you
Lost you
I've lost you
I've lost you
I've lost you
I've lost you

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