New Order were one of my favourite bands in the late 1980s/early 1990s but that wasn't always the case. I hadn't really paid too much attention to them until 1986 when "Shellshock" got some air-play on late night radio stations, and after "True Faith" was released in 1987, I decided to buy the "Substance 1987" compilation album.
Fortunately, I liked that album and then randomly started the process of buying up the New Order back catalogue. Back in the day, I had already purchased the Joy Division single "Love Will Tear Us Apart" shortly after it had been released, but that was mostly down to it having been in the charts for several weeks but without any radio play. Out of curiosity, I purchased the single and quite liked it, but not enough to invest in any other Joy Division record.
Having subsequently heard "Ceremony" and "Atmosphere" I decided to buy the "Closer" album, and the sticker shows it cost me £5.69 from Our Price records. Although I liked the "Faith" album by The Cure, "Closer" was too depressing even for me, and I think I only played the LP three or four times. I thought I had wasted my money.
"Closer" had been released only two months after singer/song-writer Ian Curtis had committed suicide, after which the surviving members of the band formed New Order, with the addition of keyboard player Gillian Gilbert.
Looking at the album sleeve I can honestly say I have no recollection of any of the 9 tracks, so this could be a very interesting experience !
Side One opens with the six minute long "Atrocity Exhibition" which has the same single funky bass riff hypnotically repeated over a tribal drumbeat. The screeching guitar creates a chaotic sound which is mostly just distorted noise and succeeds in conjuring up the image of an atrocity. However, it all somehow works and it is a tremendous song. "This is the way, step inside".
"Isolation" is the shortest track on the album at just under three minutes long. A relatively cheerful dance track beat with a synth-pop keyboard riff which wouldn't be out of place on an early Depeche Mode song. In many ways it is similar to some of the music on the subsequent first two New
Order albums.
The pace changes with the slow and ponderous "Passover". The guitar is reminiscent of that on The Cure's "Pornography" but the song is driven by the bass and drums. The drum fade out ending reminded me a little of "Other Voices" from the Cure's "Faith" album.
"Colony" has a heavy bass and thumping drumming, and what is now referred to as a post-punk guitar riff. However, it is mostly forgettable and easily the worst track on the album.
"A Means To An End" has an almost toe tapping, catchy bass line and guitar. "I put my trust in you !"
The Side Two opener "Heart And Soul" has a menacing bass line clashing with the controlled drum beat, and perhaps the most haunting vocal on the album, sounding uncannily like Jim Morrison from The Doors.
"Twenty Four Hours" has a mournful vocal and bass line before leading into a raging guitar. Again, the playing reminded me in parts of The Cure circa 1981/82. There is also an early New Order song with a similar change up to the frantic guitar, although I can't for the life of me remember which one !
"The Eternal" is an extremely bleak, funeral procession. A plodding bass intro leads into some solemn piano. It's apparently Robert Smith's favourite Joy Division song and clearly had an influence on the "Faith" album. It probably should have been the last song on the album though.
The album closes with the synth dominated "Decades" but has the most depressing vocal on "Closer", which is some accolade. The music is quite beautiful but the vocal makes it extremely dark, and it's practically a requiem. The synth chords hint at those on "Every Little Count" on New Order's "Brotherhood" album
Having played "Closer" again, I was a little surprised as to why I originally disliked it so much, given my musical tastes at the time. Admittedly it can be a hard listen, with depressing vocals and lyrics, and an austere, foreboding sound. I can see why one critic subsequently described it as "a suicide note put to music".
However, I thought "Atrocity Exhibition" and "Isolation" were really good, and I enjoyed much of the music, particularly a lot of the bass lines. Many of the songs were good in parts, and this might be an unpopular opinion, spoiled by the singing. However, I now think this is an excellent LP.
Track Listing :
Side One :
1. Atrocity Exhibition
2. Isolation
3. Passover
4. Colony
5. A Means To An End
1. Heart and Soul
2. Twenty Four Hours
3. The Eternal
4. Decades
Released 1980
UK Chart Position : 6
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