Is that all?
John S | Texas | 09/09/2007
(3 out of 5 stars)
"The massive substance of this collection is from the "Closer" album sessions held in March 1980, which must be intriguing, to say the least. A classic album, the atmosphere around it, a tragedy thereafter - obviously there are expectations about this kind of product.
Here we have 5 songs from "Closer" and 2 recordings from "Earcom 2" (1979 sampler EP). Please note that complete songs on CD start at track 9; tracks 1-8 are bizarre cuts of studio tapes (chit chat, sound effects, etc., some may last only a few seconds). Among that you hear, all of a sudden, Hannett's interview apparently taken in 1980s (he mentions Hacienda), which I find rather irrelevant on this compilation (or at least - in the tracking sequence). The songs are basically various mixes of the same takes that actually surfaced on "Closer" and "Earcom 2" but of inferior quality. For example, Decades are represented here in 3 mastermixes only slightly differing from each other.
The track listing:
1. Synth tone (As used in the Exercise One intro)
2. Hannett's Lift Recording 1
3. Joy Division Keyboard Doodles
4. Hannett's Lift Recording 2
5. Joy Division Number False Start
6. Curtis, Hannett, Gretton Interplay, Chit Chat And Cup Smashing
7. Hannett Speaks (A later interview from 1980s)
8. Joy Division Number False Start 2
9. From Safety To Where (1979)
10. Autosuggestion (1979)
11. Heart And Soul (Closer session)
12. N4 Europop (i.e. Decades; Closer session)
13. 24 Hours (Closer session)
14. Passover (Closer session)
15. N4 (i.e. Decades; Closer session)
16. N4 (i.e. Decades; Closer session)
17. The Eternal (Closer session)
18. The Eternal (Closer session)
It's hardly sensational and therefore the question is: what was the exact source for this compilation? It feels like someone either possessed just exactly this tape of mixes (very oddly put together from various sessions by Hannett himself? I doubt), or had access to some Factory tapes. The result is mixing."
So that's why Ian used Ballard's Atrocity Exhibition for a s
epsteinsmutha | At the bottom of Juan Epstein's excuse note | 11/05/2007
(2 out of 5 stars)
"The late Tony Wilson said Hannett could hear the sounds of the rings around Saturn moving. Maybe so, but all I hear on this is the sound of the bottom of a barrel being scraped, and being such a huge fan of Joy Division, did I jump on it?
Yup.
Am I feeling really stupid for it?
For all but the last few tracks.
I'd hardly consider the sounds of elevators being worthy of track listings (unless they're the 13th Floor variety) and the alternate takes are interesting from an historical standpoint, especially if you have to have EVERY bit of Joy Division ephemera, which I do.
In the end, if you are a completist, hey, it's cheaper to buy this than to get a life, even on import. If you aren't that deep into the band, stick with the albums or even Permanent. I'm just bitter because I spied a rare Kraftwerk CD after I shelled out for this, that's my own stupidity.
Signed,
epsteinsmutha"
Not perfect but......
anonymous | 12/31/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"after seeing the low marks the two reviewers had given it, I had to chime in.
I own this and love it. sure , the first half is a little goofy and ultimately irrelevant but the mixes from Closer are sublime.
its really scary and beautiful and breathtakng this world of sound that Hannet created with Joy Divsion.
I think these mixes are pretty special stuff, I'd grab this if I were a real JD fan , and I have been, ever since I bought a copy of 'Transmission' at Wax Trax records in 1979.
those WERE the days my friends."
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1