As with most albums that are credited with birthing a genre, I'm sure that the truth is muddier. Genres don't pop out of nowhere and Joy Division certainly didn't come up with all of these sounds, rhythms and motifs out of nowhere. That being said, it is quite interesting how much basically every element of the genre is present in this one album (the haunting, bass vocals, jagged and atmospheric guitars). The rhythms are easy enough to follow, its the surrounding soundscape where the experimentation lies.
The album carries a serious level of introspective nihilism. There's a feeling that every experience in this world has already happened and everything from now on is a hollow carbon copy. That might seem terrifying, but Ian Curtis confronts this void head one, ending the track Insight with a repeated "I'm not afraid anymore".
The band examines self evolution, questioning if change is really change or just a coping mechanism for our past shame. A selfish metamorphosis to self soothe. Often failed. "Me, seeing me this time. Hoping for something else."
My favorite track is "She's Lost Control". A horrifying time I got to say. The bands depicts a woman going through what appears to be a psychotic break and the sane piece of her sitting in the realization. I love the jagged guitar sitting in the background, like there is a haunting presence sneaking up. Really fun licks here too for such a scary song.
Excited to get to rest of the albums in this set and move onto New Order.
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