Run 2
Run 2 was the second operational run of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world's largest and highest-energy particle accelerator, operated by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) from 2015 to 2018.[1] During this period, the LHC delivered proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, a doubling from Run 1, enabling deeper probes into fundamental physics.[2] The run accumulated an integrated luminosity exceeding 160 fb^{-1} for proton-proton collisions, providing seven times more data than the previous run and facilitating precise measurements and searches for new phenomena.[3] Following a two-year shutdown for upgrades after Run 1, the LHC restarted operations in April 2015, with physics data collection beginning in June at the elevated energy level.[4] Key enhancements included improved beam stability, higher luminosity delivery—peaking at over twice the design value—and operations with heavy ions such as lead and xenon, alongside specialized proton-lead runs to study cosmic ray-like conditions.[4] The run concluded on 3 December 2018, after achieving a colliding beam time efficiency of approximately 50%, demonstrating the machine's maturity and reliability.[1] Run 2 yielded transformative results across particle physics, including the first observations of Higgs boson decays to bottom quarks and tau leptons, as well as improved precision on its couplings to top quarks and mass measurements.[2] Experiments like ATLAS and CMS published over 200 results, advancing Standard Model validations, quark-gluon plasma studies, and constraints on beyond-Standard-Model physics such as supersymmetry and dark matter candidates.[3] These outcomes laid critical groundwork for subsequent runs, including the High-Luminosity LHC era, by testing operational strategies and detector upgrades.[4]Background and production
Album context
New Order, formed in 1980 from the ashes of the post-punk band Joy Division following the suicide of frontman Ian Curtis, initially retained their Manchester roots in angular guitar riffs and brooding atmospheres but gradually incorporated electronic synthesizers and drum machines, marking a shift toward dance-oriented sounds.[5] By the mid-1980s, influences from New York's electro and disco scenes, evident in hits like "Blue Monday," had propelled them into alternative dance territory, and in the late 1980s, they fully embraced acid house and Balearic beat elements amid the UK's emerging rave culture.[5] This evolution positioned New Order as pioneers bridging post-punk's intensity with club music's euphoria.[6] Technique, New Order's fifth studio album, emerged during this transitional phase and was released on 30 January 1989 by Factory Records, becoming their first UK number-one album.[6] Recorded partly in Ibiza during the summer of 1988, the album captured the island's burgeoning club scene, including the eclectic Balearic sounds at venues like Amnesia, which infused its tracks with hedonistic energy and acid house rhythms despite initial unproductive sessions marked by partying.[6] This context reflected New Order's immersion in global dance trends, helping sustain Factory Records amid financial pressures from their Haçienda nightclub.[6] "Run 2" was selected as the third single from Technique, following the lead single "Fine Time" (released November 1988, UK No. 11) and "Round & Round" (February 1989, UK No. 21), to further promote the album's innovative acid house direction through remixed versions that emphasized its dance-floor appeal.[6] Released on 28 August 1989, the single aligned with New Order's strategy of leveraging chart success and club remixes to extend Technique's momentum into the latter half of 1989, reinforcing the band's role in the Madchester scene.[6]Recording process
The recording of "Run 2," originally titled "Run" on the album Technique, took place in 1988 at two primary locations: Mediterranean Studios in Ibiza, Spain, where basic tracks were laid down, and Real World Studios in Box, Wiltshire, England, for overdubs and final mixing.[7][6] The band, consisting of Bernard Sumner on vocals and guitar, Peter Hook on bass, Gillian Gilbert on keyboards and synthesizers, and Stephen Morris on drums, handled production internally with engineering support from Michael Johnson.[7][8] Sessions commenced in the summer of 1988, specifically May and June, while New Order was based in Ibiza, aligning with the island's emerging club scene that permeated their workflow over eight weeks there (including a break).[7][6] After returning to the UK, the group spent seven additional weeks at Real World Studios to complete the album, with mixing overseen by Alan Mayerson.[7] This extended timeline allowed for iterative refinements, capturing the track's foundational elements amid the project's overall momentum.[9] The initial album version of "Run" clocks in at 4:29, reflecting the raw energy derived from the Ibiza sessions' live instrumentation and electronic layering.[10] Key contributions included Morris's driving drum patterns, Gilbert's synth textures, Hook's prominent basslines, and Sumner's guitar riffs and vocals, all integrated during the basic tracking phase.[7][6]Composition
Style and influences
"Run 2" is a dance-rock track that fuses New Order's established alternative dance style with electronic house components.[8] This blend reflects the band's experimentation during the late 1980s electronic music surge.[6] The track draws significant influences from the vibrant 1988 club scene in Ibiza, where New Order encountered Balearic beat and acid house sounds that inspired their pivot toward more dance-oriented compositions, coinciding with the rise of the Madchester movement in Manchester.[8] These experiences, gained partly during sessions on the island, infused "Run 2" with an energetic, club-ready ethos.[6] Structurally, "Run 2" features an upbeat tempo of approximately 118 BPM,[11] accented by prominent guitar riffs that add a rock edge, alongside electronic percussion that propels the track's driving rhythm. This combination creates a dynamic tension between New Order's post-punk roots and house influences.[8] In comparison to other tracks on Technique, "Run 2" shares the album's dance-electronic influences with the opener "Fine Time," though it leans more toward guitar-driven energy.[6]Album vs single version
The album version of "Run," lasting 4:31, includes extended instrumental sections that align with the dance-rock aesthetic of New Order's 1989 album Technique.[12] These sections provide a spacious, groove-oriented buildup typical of the band's exploration of electronic dance influences during that era.[8] In contrast, the single version, released as "Run 2" and remixed by producer Scott Litt, runs for 3:41 to suit radio formats, incorporating a more concise arrangement by trimming the introductory and concluding segments.[13] This edit replaces the album's prolonged instrumental outro with a repeated chorus, streamlining the structure for broader commercial appeal.[13]Release and artwork
Release details
"Run 2" was released on 28 August 1989 by Factory Records as the third and final single from New Order's fifth studio album, Technique.[13] The single was issued in the United Kingdom in limited physical formats, including a 12-inch vinyl edition (catalogue number FAC 273) pressed in 20,000 copies.[14] A promotional 7-inch vinyl version (FAC 273-7) was also produced, limited to 500 copies and intended for radio and industry use.[15] Subsequent reissues in the 1990s and 2000s incorporated the track into CD compilations and deluxe album editions, marking the first digital formats for the single.[16]Track listing
The "Run 2" single was issued in 7" and 12" vinyl formats, with the 7" featuring a concise track listing limited to the primary remix and B-side, while the 12" expanded to include extended versions and additional mixes.[14][17] The A-side across formats presented a remix of the album track "Run" from New Order's 1989 album Technique, whose original version runs 4:31.[12] The B-side, "MTO", is a near-instrumental exclusive to the single, available in standard and extended "Minus Mix" variants on the 12".[14][18]7" Single Track Listing
| Side | Track | Duration | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Run 2 (Remix) | 3:35 | Remixed by Scott Litt[17] |
| B | MTO | 3:43 | Engineer: Chris Andrews; Additional production and remix: Mike "Hitman" Wilson for Real House Productions[17] |
12" Single Track Listing
| Side | Track | Duration | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Run 2 (Remix) | 3:41 | Remixed by Scott Litt[14] |
| A2 | Run 2 (Extended Version) | 5:32 | Remixed by Scott Litt; Additional beats: Afrika Islam[14] |
| B1 | MTO | 3:49 | Engineer: Chris Andrews; Remix and additional production: Mike "Hitman" Wilson[14] |
| B2 | MTO (Minus Mix) | 5:32 | Engineer: Chris Andrews; Remix and additional production: Mike "Hitman" Wilson[14] |