Joy Division ‎– Unknown Pleasures

I could have chosen to write about Unknown Pleasures or Closer both brilliant releases by Joy Division, and instead will mention aspects of both releases here ... but more, I would like to speak to the nature of the albums themselves and the effects they had on me.

As a veteran, one who has seen more then my share of combat, combat related issues, and was probably dealing with Post Traumatic Stress, the rise and discovery of Joy Division was as if a window had been opened in the back of my head for the first time ... the darkness of the music [as found on “She’s Lost Control”] not only flowed in, but it flowed out. No longer was I compartmentalizing, storing, hoarding, turning all of my feelings and experiences inward ... I had finally heard the music that I had been straining to hear since I had gotten back from Vietnam ... and here it was, with all of its splendid darkly haunting verse and notes. I felt that I had found a kindred spirit in Ian Curtis, and when I shared or discussed this music with other service men and women, they too felt the connection with the alienation ... yet all was counterbalanced with a sense of place and belonging.

Both “Closer” released in 1980 and “Unknown Pleasures” released in 1979, probably contributed to saving my life. I woke up with these albums and I went to bed with them, their essence seemed to float like smoke all around me, effected my outlook and attitude ... it was only from allowing Joy Division to draw me so deeply into the dark waters, that I was able to make the decision that I wanted to breath, swam to the surface gasping for air, and allowed myself to sink again, this time knowing that I could make this plunge at will ... no longer was there a driving force compelling me to venture so far from shore. Of course, just because I could see the beach did not mean that I was not drowning ... but there did come a day when I found that I was sitting on the beach looking out at the black waters, uncomfortably covered with sand, wet and cold.

I have not played these albums for years, and opening both of them for this review is actually the first time I have touched them in just as long ... perhaps one day I will have the strength or courage to again let the music contained on these discs wrap around my soul ... but not today.

The music of Joy Division exists in and of itself, it relies on nothing, seemly arriving on this planet fully formed, with no need for development or refinement ... it was perfect just the way it was. I doubt that I could list more then six other albums that exist in that realm ... they burned so brightly, that it is no wonder that Ian and his band burned out as Joy Division so quickly ... leaving us a remarkable body of work to be pondered over for years. It is said that Michelangelo received his commission to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel by drawing a perfect circle, while his counterparts labored over detailed renditions of their abilities ... Joy Division drew the perfect circle ... and I lived there for quite some time.

After all, music like this is all about the emotion, “Joy Division” lets me touch the wound ... truth is often a difficult thing to face, especially when in doing so, the mask I’ve been wearing is essentially stripped away, exposing for all the world to see ... the hurt child, the angry adult, the emotionally shattered, taped together and chemically fortified tower of strength who can hold the dying at 4 P.M. and be sharing dinner conversation at 6 o’clock with a smile on my face, happy to see the company, all while knowing they can’t be leaving soon enough.

Review by Jenell Kesler

THERE IS NO RED VINYL PRESSING OF THIS RECORD!!! First press, second press, 10th press whatever! It is simply a cheaper black vinyl that appears "red" when held up to a light source like a high wattage bulb etc... This is otherwise known as a scam as this record was NEVER pressed on any color vinyl other than traditional black. You can look at any Factory Records information from this time and see there is no mention whatsoever of any color vinyl pressings. If you buy this after reading the information I just posted you deserve to be ripped off and will be very disappointed when you get your "red" vinyl only to discover its black.

This translucent red version ("A PORKY PRIME CUT"/Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd.) is not a bootleg. This is the real deal and I've spoken to other collectors that have stories about picking it up in 1979. I've owned clean copies of the original U.K., original US, and the Rhino remaster, and this is the best sounding copy I own. It's obvious it's an AAA pressing with very light master buss compression. The artwork is the original textured sleeve with inner. I will never sell mine.