from the LP Unknown Pleasure, Factory Records, 1979There has always been something about the susceptibility and scarred exposure inherent to Joy Division’s music that lifts me up; I know that sounds ass-backwards, but sometimes melancholic music makes you feel content, it toughens your resolve, holds your head up a bit. The jittery drumbeat that serves as a “spine” for the track (albeit, one with severe osteoporosis) threatens to crumble at any second, which matches perfectly against Peter Hook’s assertive, rubbery bassline; this rhythm section’s interplay perhaps defined their sounds as much as Ian Curtis’ impassioned baritone voice. There are lots of swooshing electronic effects added to the mix, and along with Ian’s echoed singing, they augment the atmosphere in such a way that you almost feel like the entire song was recorded inside of an abandoned nuclear silo. Although the band deserves a lot of credit for creating the song itself, it’s impossible to overstate the significance of Martin Hannett’s production; there are fanciful tales of him forcing Joy Division’s drummer Steven Morris to add parts from a toilet into his drumset in order to produce the exact sounds which Martin wanted. Quite frankly, this song and entire album are testament to the fact that his obsessive quirks were not only worth the band’s time and patience to indulge, but his metallic and sparse style proved to be rather visionary; I really can’t say enough good things about the entire Factory records catalogue, so I’ll stop kissing their ass already. The lyrics of this song are generally agreed upon to be addressing Ian’s issues with epilepsy, the fallout of which may very well have played into his decision to take his own life only a year after this album was released. “It's getting faster, moving faster now, it's getting out of hand; on the tenth floor, down the back stairs, it's a no man's land. Lights are flashing, cars are crashing, getting frequent now; I've got the spirit, lose the feeling, let it out somehow…” The medical world’s ability to treat epilepsy back then was more of a crapshoot, a roller coaster of different medications, both dispensed to treat the primary problem and to combat the side effects of those initial pills; it’s very hard to imagine juggling the turmoil of that on top of becoming a rock star, being a father, husband, and lover… “I've been waiting for a guide to come and take me by the hand; could these sensations make me feel the pleasures of a normal man? New sensations barely interest me for another day; I've got the spirit, lose the feeling, take the shock away…” The band went on to become New Order after Ian’s suicide, and although there is no doubt that his passing created a legend of eternal interest, Joy Division’s music easily stands on its own as some of the most moving and superb rock music ever recorded!
