Why buy "Closer" ?
(1) It's the best album from Joy Division - one of the best bands of the post-punk (end of 70s - beginning of 80s) and one of the most influential - you have a whole universe of musicians who'll recognize the impact of Joy Division in their music
(2) You'll never forget it - once you listen (with your full attention) the songs and the ambiance will never leave you; you can enjoy the album or hate it, but it will have a major impact
What is "Closer" ?
Joy Division started in 1977, as Warsaw, and quickly improved its sound (with the help of producer Martin Hannet from Factory Records) to its impressive debut album "Unknown Pleasures" (1979). Powerful songs were released only in EPs ("Transmission", "Atmosphere"), and "Closer"'s release was scheduled to happen just after Joy Division's 1st US gig - a trip that did not happen due to the suicide of Ian Curtis in 18 May 1980. The posterior release of "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (EP) and "Closer" was seen as a 'final message' from Ian. OK, but even without knowing Ian's background and personal life, you can enjoy the strenght of the lyrics, the atmosphere created by the music and the beauty of all this together.
Here is a rapid review of the songs, but a quick note: the original release (in vinyl) has no particular order for the sides (no A/B); songs 1-5 were in one of the sides, 6-9 in the other.
1. Atrocity Exhibition: Deriving its title from a J.G. Ballard book, it 's a powerful song that sets the tone for the whole album (4 songs last more than 5 min), and the line "This is the way - step inside" speaks by itself
2. Isolation: In this song you can see again a common pattern: each instrument starts at a different time, each going its own way, then, when they're all together, a new pattern emerges, which will support Ian's voice; this song's electronic front will make you sing together with Ian "But if you could just see the beauty ..."
3. Passover: This song starts playing with the slowing down of the beat, setting a tone of desperation that goes on through the next 2 songs; the guitar makes a poignant appearance
4. Colony: The acceleration of the rhythm in this song will make you anxious, just to meet ...
5. Means To An End, A: This song will mess you up ... the speed changes, the beat, and the lyrics ... sparse, but setting a sense of defeat: "I put my trust in you" ...
6. Heart And Soul: Now we start a new journey ... the keyboard comes back to the front, the beat starts cutting through, the voice changes and now you have the impression of someone looking at things from far away, already detached from it ... it's simple and beautiful
7. Twenty Four Hours: Now the speed and the urgency come back, but for no purpose at all ... everything is lost
8. The Eternal: You never heard anything like it ... slow, compelling ... you feel like you're in a dream ... or a funeral procession ... again an instrument comes cutting through, now the piano ...
9. Decades: The closing of the album, a judgement of the past, with a powerful beat and keyboard, wonderful voice effects, it will leave a final and lasting impression on you, together with the question: "Where have they been ?" M. Carreira.
(1) It's the best album from Joy Division - one of the best bands of the post-punk (end of 70s - beginning of 80s) and one of the most influential - you have a whole universe of musicians who'll recognize the impact of Joy Division in their music
(2) You'll never forget it - once you listen (with your full attention) the songs and the ambiance will never leave you; you can enjoy the album or hate it, but it will have a major impact
What is "Closer" ?
Joy Division started in 1977, as Warsaw, and quickly improved its sound (with the help of producer Martin Hannet from Factory Records) to its impressive debut album "Unknown Pleasures" (1979). Powerful songs were released only in EPs ("Transmission", "Atmosphere"), and "Closer"'s release was scheduled to happen just after Joy Division's 1st US gig - a trip that did not happen due to the suicide of Ian Curtis in 18 May 1980. The posterior release of "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (EP) and "Closer" was seen as a 'final message' from Ian. OK, but even without knowing Ian's background and personal life, you can enjoy the strenght of the lyrics, the atmosphere created by the music and the beauty of all this together.
Here is a rapid review of the songs, but a quick note: the original release (in vinyl) has no particular order for the sides (no A/B); songs 1-5 were in one of the sides, 6-9 in the other.
1. Atrocity Exhibition: Deriving its title from a J.G. Ballard book, it 's a powerful song that sets the tone for the whole album (4 songs last more than 5 min), and the line "This is the way - step inside" speaks by itself
2. Isolation: In this song you can see again a common pattern: each instrument starts at a different time, each going its own way, then, when they're all together, a new pattern emerges, which will support Ian's voice; this song's electronic front will make you sing together with Ian "But if you could just see the beauty ..."
3. Passover: This song starts playing with the slowing down of the beat, setting a tone of desperation that goes on through the next 2 songs; the guitar makes a poignant appearance
4. Colony: The acceleration of the rhythm in this song will make you anxious, just to meet ...
5. Means To An End, A: This song will mess you up ... the speed changes, the beat, and the lyrics ... sparse, but setting a sense of defeat: "I put my trust in you" ...
6. Heart And Soul: Now we start a new journey ... the keyboard comes back to the front, the beat starts cutting through, the voice changes and now you have the impression of someone looking at things from far away, already detached from it ... it's simple and beautiful
7. Twenty Four Hours: Now the speed and the urgency come back, but for no purpose at all ... everything is lost
8. The Eternal: You never heard anything like it ... slow, compelling ... you feel like you're in a dream ... or a funeral procession ... again an instrument comes cutting through, now the piano ...
9. Decades: The closing of the album, a judgement of the past, with a powerful beat and keyboard, wonderful voice effects, it will leave a final and lasting impression on you, together with the question: "Where have they been ?" M. Carreira.
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