Closer
About this Album
Closer is Joy Division's second and final studio album, released by Factory Records on 18 July 1980.[1]
It was produced by Martin Hannett and recorded in March 1980, two months before the death of singer and lyricist Ian Curtis and two months before its release.[1] Its lyrics were heavily influenced by J. G. Ballard, and the opening track takes its title from his book The Atrocity Exhibition.[1]
Critics have praised the record's maturity and Hannett's spacious, sepulchral production.[2] It reached number 6 on the UK Albums Chart.[1] The band's best-known single, "Love Will Tear Us Apart", came out a month earlier as a separate release and is not part of the original album.[1]
References
- Closer (Joy Division album) (Wikipedia) — Album recording dates, release, production and relation to Curtis's death.
- Joy Division, Closer (Far Out Magazine) — Critical assessment of the album and Hannett's production.