Unforgettable (Permanent - Joy Division)

Member Name: mo79

Product:	Permanent - Joy Division
Date:	25/03/01 (167 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Joy Division aren't around any longer, but their excellent legacy remains and this is a good intro compilation

Disadvantages: I honestly can't think of one, unless you don't like Joy Division

Manchester's Joy Division first came to my attention not too many years ago, mainly because their name has been namechecked by many modern bands that I've liked and I also owned a New Order (the band were born of JD's surviving members) compilation which contained two leftover tracks with lyrics penned by the late Ian Curtis and I really did enjoy the singles I'd heard on the radio and TV, so decided to pick up a copy of the 1995 'Permanent' compilation, and I wasn't at all dissapointed.
The reason also why I'm reviewing this CD delayed is because I overlooked it, but got reminded as there is a kind of media resurrection of the band, such as the new Mancunian music scene film '24 Hour Party People' coming up, and the screenplay of Curtis' widow Deborah's biography on her late husband 'Touching From A Distance' being tentatively called 'Transmission' after one of their famous songs, and recently the Manic Street Preachers have paid a very evident homage on their latest album in the form of 'Dead Martyrs' which sounds a bit like a thing Joy Division would've done.
Basically Joy Division are tied into a network of many things, always have been, and always will be.
History fondly remembers The Sex Pistols and The Clash the most from the punk era, while Joy Division remained side legends at the side. The music Joy Division crafted was less riotous and more morose, moody, atmospheric, claustrophobic and at times scary. But most importantly they sounded, and still sound way ahead of their time. A band from the future.
The band also, are what most people wouldn't argue with, are the pioneers of indie. In effect they were the first indie band, but aswell as that they influenced goth, electronic pop and experimental, and more I'm sure. The band assimilated many influences from Kraftwerk, to The Velvet Underground and indeed The Sex Pistols.
Joy Division were a rare breed
of band who actually sounded new and did what they did well, the members of the band even described this period as pretty magical.
Ian Curtis was the man with the anguished almost poetic lyric delivered in either a restrained old man moroseness or difficult spasm, not entirely dissimilar to William S. Burroughs, and even recreating the nightmares of his favourite authors live on stage. Though I haven't seen them live unfortunately, Curtis' stage presence was reportedly possessed. He was really into what he was doing and meant everything he did while in his visionary state. So much so that once on a TV show viewers complained that he looked like he was on drugs. The rest of the band could but merely provide the edgy, dark and claustrophic soundtrack to Curtis, and with constant greatness. Which is why both on record and live they were ace.
Bernard Sumner's wiry, dry and scraping guitar work is a trademark, even to this day, even though the work of New Order is less dark. His guitar (and synth) work was a pinnacle that influenced many indie bands thereafter, while bassist Peter Hook was responsible for making the building blocks of all the songs with his catchy yet mechanical bass lines, accompanied by the unnatural yet strangely well-working drum roboticism of drummer Stephen Morris. Capped off with the hollow production of the late Martin Hannett.
Even though the band only released 3 albums before Curtis' suicide (why we'll never know but a lot of problems were building up for him), each of them contained many gems that influenced and enthralled masses of people around the world. Joy Division are one of the most important bands in Britain, and probably the world in terms of modern rock music, but yet they still aren't fondly remembered as The Sex Pistols etc. as I'd mentioned. They made music go forward, and bands like that are always very rare. Joy Division should be taught in history class, and everyone should learn about th
em in my opinion.
While New Order soldiered on still as a great band, the Joy Division period is one that no one can match. It was a rare thing, sadnwiched between punk's death and the birth of indie and the New Romantic movement.
This then (as I finally get to the point) is the 15th anniversary compilation, since the band's last album, put out by London Records (as their old label Factory went bust a while before) containing 15 selected Joy Division tracks, both popular and loved, plus one different mix of the classic opener 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' (essentially a cleaned up quality modern version) with pretty extensive liner notes by pop guru Jon Savage explaining everything from the birth to the immortality of the band and rather chilling but simple accompanying artwork by artist Peter Saville.
I can't say fairer than that this album as a whole is brilliant, 5/5, and it really just *has* to be heard by people with a good taste in music. I'm just sad that I only own this record currently, but am looking to one day invest in the £40 complete Joy Division compilation 'Heart & Soul' 4 CD set, as I just honestly think Joy Division are great. There's something unreally surreal, great and blackishly black about them. Pure class!
'Love Will Tear Us Apart' is just one of the greatest pop songs ever written in every way, enough said, while 'Transmission' is a blast of pure confused controlled panic. 'She's Lost Control' is a classic bouncy pop punk favourite, and even once adopted by Hole's Courtney Love. 'Shadow Play' and 'Day Of The Lords' showcase pure dark authority and claustrophobia, while 'Isolation' merges into zany synth-pop, a blue print for New Order. 'Heart & Soul' is just purely chilling, while '24 Hours' & 'These Days' display more new age panic.
'Novelty' shows the most purest nod to pre-punk and sounds a bit like V
elvet Underground. While 'Dead Souls' shows more terror, and fear in 'The Only Mistake'. 'Something Must Break' is pure art oxygen-depraved sounding terror, while the lovely, serene but moody airy exiter 'Atmosphere' is probably the soundtrack to Curtis' last straw. It's a beautiful and harrowing way to end.
Joy Division played with extremes, Joy Division were new, Joy Division were simply one of the greatest bands ever. Joy Division is immortal!

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