Substance cover

Substance

Recorded
1977-1980
Released

Released in the wake of the similarly titled overview of New Order’s career up until that time, 1988’s Substance proved to be the better complement and overview of Joy Division’s career than Still, collecting, particularly in its expanded CD form, practically every formally released non-album cut that the band did in its short life. A large number of these songs are absolutely essential to the Joy Division story, the famed “Love Will Tear Us Apart” most notably, but also such standouts as “Transmission,” “Dead Souls” and the dreamy, dark serenity of “Atmosphere.”

Ned Raggett

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