The second and final album by Joy Division, released on July 18, 1980 on Factory, two months after the suicide of lead singer Ian Curtis.  The album was recorded from 18 to 30 March 1980 at Britannia Row Studios, Islington, London.  The cover photo is a detail of the Appiani family tomb in the Staglieno Cemetery in Genova, Italy. The sculpture was made by Demetrio Paernio. Leaving aside completely the music recorded on this 180g slab of vinyl, I would just like to assure any would-be purchasers that the quality of the record itself and the thick, plush sleeve/inner sleeve are all of a very high standard of quality indeed. The sound is vivid - morbid, but vivid ;-)
If you are new to Joy Division, after hearing this you will know, were The Cure, Nick Cave (only to name two) have their inspiration from.
'Closer' was the second Joy Division album, and, like their debut, 'Unknown Pleasures', is a chilly and often disturbing listen. The stark, funereally monochrome sleeve serves warning on what to expect, content-wise; this the Dark Stuff indeed, and Ian Curtis' subsequent suicide can hardly have been that much of a shock when you immerse yourself into the album. So, if it is so bleak, why listen to it, then? Surely one of the purposes of music is to bring some degree of cheer to deal with the workaday grind? Maybe so, but in the nine tracks on this album, the cumulative effect is strangely transforming; the darkness is leavened to some extent by the effect of simple but powerful melodies and arrangements, and as a kind of audio commentary of a tortured soul, it is never less than gripping. 'Heart and Soul' is based on a remorseless, driving drum pattern, beautifully layered and conveyed through a pulsing bass line and distorted guitars. 'The Atrocity Exhibition', basically a list taking its inspiration from a JG Ballard short story is no less intense and battering. 'Decades', the track that ends the album, contains a glacially beautiful melody. And that's kind of the story of the album; lyrical anomie added to wonderful tunes.
This is the 2020 vinyl reissue, and to says it with few words: it destroys every existing reissue/CD/SACD etc. that exists, concerning the sound. An album that is not for the faint of heart, but one that brings much in the way of rewards if you get into it.
Highly recommended!
Joy Division ‎– Closer
Label: Factory ‎– FACT∙XXV, Factory ‎– FACT. 25, Factory ‎– FACT·XXV·MMXX Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Repress, Stereo, Clear [Crystal Clear], 180 Gram Country: Europe Released: 17 Jul 2020 Genre: Rock Style: Post-Punk, New Wave
Tracklist A1 Atrocity Exhibition A2 Isolation A3 Passover A4 Colony A5 A Means To An End
B1 Heart And Soul B2 Twenty Four Hours B3 The Eternal B4 Decades
Companies, etc. Phonographic Copyright (p) – Warner Music UK Ltd. Copyright (c) – Warner Music UK Ltd. Published By – Universal Music Publishing UK Produced At – Britannia Row Studios Printed By – Optimal Pressed By – Optimal Media GmbH – BE77814
Credits Design – Martyn Atkins, Peter Saville Engineer – John Caffery, Martin Hannett Engineer [Assistant] – Michael Johnson Photography By – Bernard Pierre Wolff Producer – Martin Hannett Written-By – Joy Division
Notes 40th anniversary edition.
Includes a plastic lined inner sleeve as well as a printed inner sleeve.

M (Mint) - Neu, meistens versiegelt, nie gespielt

NM (Near Mint) - So gut wie neu, 1-2 Mal gespielt

EX (Excellent) - Mit geringfügige Spuren des Gebrauchs, minimale Störungen möglich

VG (Very Good) - Unter Umständen deutliche Spuren des Gebrauchs, einige Störungen hier und hörbar, Platte aber voll geniessbar (95% aller gebrauchten Platten weltweit sind VG/VG+)

Das Pluszeichen (+) wertet die entsprechende Benotung etwas auf

M (Mint) - New, mostly sealed, never played

NM (Near Mint) - As good as new, played 1-2 times

EX (Excellent) - With minor traces of use, minimal interference possible

VG (Very Good) - Under certain circumstances clear traces of use, some disturbances audible here and there, but vinyl fully enjoyable (95% of all used records worldwide are VG / VG +)

The plus sign (+) evaluates the corresponding rating slightly

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