MUSIC

Press, 7 October 1988, Page 23

MUSIC

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Moments of Joy

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JOY DIVISION “Substance” (Factory Records FACT 250). Back in the days of 1980, a chap by the name of lan Curtis decided life wasn’t really for him so hung himself. The result of this rather tragic day in the life of Mr Curtis was instant martyrdom for him and legend status for his band, Joy Division, courtesy of a bunch of rock journalists a little too eager for something big. Joy Division were, admittedly, good. The albums “Unknown Pleasures,” and “Closer” — especially the latter — displayed powerful, innovative music, sometimes dark and oppressive, other times uplifting, at the time new and exciting. But it is from other sources “Substance” draws its tracks, from singles and various hard-to-get releases, the music spanning the three years of Joy Division’s existence.

The opening “Warsaw”

was one of the first tracks they recorded, in December, 1977. It sounds like a bad Busscocks song, played enthusiastically but pretty much forgettable.

Basically, with this and “Leaders of Men,” they could be any of numerous English “post-punk” bands from the late 19705. Interesting to hear, perhaps, but very dated. The versions here have been cleaned up, by the way, so they sound much clearer than the versions on numerous bootlegs and such like.

“Digital” and “Autosuggestion” are more like the Joy Division known to all; “Autosuggestion” is a little forced and ponderous, but “Digital” is probably the first of their recorded songs where they really sparked — a speedy, hard pop song where their past and

soon-to-be standard styles merge. The remainder of the tracks on “Substance” prove that a Joy Division compilation is not a redundant item. There are the cold, bleak dance automatisms of “She’s Lost Control” and “Transmission” to begin with, and the guitar-driven instrumental "Incubation” —

not a classic, but entertaining all the same.

It’s the last three tracks that really stand out, and show why Joy Division deserved some of their attention. “Dead Souls" is angry, harsh and bleak but one of the best things this band recorded, showing how powerful their music could be.

With “Atmosphere,” we see how delicate-struc-tured and polished they were. It is not depressing, or morbid or gloomy, but it is one of the few pieces of pop music that could be called beautiful.

The last single, “Love Will Tear Us Apart” —- now divorced from the overreaction of the press

at the time of its release, shortly after Curtis’s death — may not be as strong as the preceding two tracks, but is better than most English pop of the time. Ironically enough, Curtis’s wife had left him shortly before his suicide. Anyway, as with much of Joy Division’s material, this is carried by a strong rhythm section, whose sometime dance beat would eventually change to the mainstream dance music of New Order. “Substance” makes a good overview of the career of Joy Division. We have been given a wellrounded representation of the bano. Limiting the compilation to 10 tracks was a wise idea, too. It means we do not get stuck with the inevitable fillertype material that turns up on most compilations. Joy Division were certainly not the most improtant band since whoever, as some may lie us to think, but “Substance” shows they had their moments. -PAUL COLLETT