Engineering The Sound: Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures

Post-punk. A hyphenated word likely dropped on almost every music blog in the last week. The genre’s recent revival has become somewhat of a global occurrence, with bands like Diät emerging from Berlin, Protomartyr rhythmically driving away from within the heart of Trump country, and even a vibrant local scene here in Australia, spearheaded by Melbourne legends, Total Control, and being taken in new directions by the likes of Sydney’s DEN.

It would be tough to assert that none of these artists are familiar with Joy Division – it would be even more absurd to claim that none of these post-punkers are fans of the genre’s pioneers.

When exploring the crystalline grit that is the sound of Joy Division, one cannot go past the influence that producer Martin Hannett had on their music. Let's take a look at how he shaped Unknown Pleasures.

Almost three decades before the release of Joy Division’s debut LP Unknown Pleasures, another English band emerged with a sound born from the working class – four fabulous young gentlemen from Liverpool.

However, while the Beatles’ sound was a breath of fresh air amongst the austerity of post-war Britain, Joy Division embodied the industrial atmosphere of Manchester, and the elbow grease (and literal grease) that drenched the bodies that inhabited the city. Even if it was never intended to.

#joydivision #unknownpleasures #postpunk

[carlosnavarro]

Impossible to choose just one. The album is a masterpiece!

[jumofi]

Hannett is the 5th Joy Division member to me

[derkeheath]

It was decades before I appreciated Peter Hook's bass playing in New Order because I didn't realize that the traditional bass parts on most New Order songs were programmed on computer, and I mistook Hooky's bass parts for guitar.

[middleclassic]

New Dawn Fades … although I think at one time or another each and every song has been my favorite.

[shogdite]

Just play it all, from beginning to end !

[leoac]

Martin Hannett wasn't "fuelled by heroin" when he produced Joy Division.
The level of research done for this video was a little loose, to say the least.

[petewoodman]

The "middle" of the album: (1) New Dawn Fades, (2) Shadowplay, (3) She's Lost Control .... superb album closely followed by Closer

[scarofthesun]

Shadowplay with New Dawn Fades coming second but very close!

[stephendallison]

There is no best track all are best tracks to each person's opinion at certain times in life .the whole album is the best to me whenever it's played no matter what 🕰️

[SomeRandomHobo]

musicians to music producers are like actors to directors. ... with direction from Martin Hannett like "do it again, but this time, more cocktail party" or "more tbh idk how i'd react to that.

[lawrencebowden]

If I had to choose I would go for "Disorder"

[gwugluud]

One interesting thing re this album is that the parts, particularly the guitar, were bone-simple. Even I can play them, lol. They definitely kept the 1977-ish punk ethos in that respect. But listening to the songs, it's not obvious at all that the music, technically speaking, was on the Dee Dee Ramone level.
And I WILL be misunderstood by any flat-earthers born 6 months ago who may read this, so allow me to clarify, I LOVE Dee Dee Ramone, I LOVE Sid Vicious, I LOVE 1st-wave very early punk rock.

[jan--arc]

He’s a genius I would hire him for my band

[Santeduardo]

The Album and the band are an statement of future sound, bands even in the 2010's decade the post punk and alternative haven't evoluted since Hannett's Unknown Pleasures.
examples of this are The XX even the album cover is as minimalistic as UP. INTERPOL, BLOC PARTY, MOTORAMA, EDITORS, BEACH HOUSE ETC. Try to listen to many records from 1979 in every genre and they sound like that time but you listen to UP an you may think it was released yesterday.

[Fandrian]

Great video. ...New Dawn Fades is my fav

[matthewbotha]

Disorder is my favourite on Unknown Pleasures

[robfak]

great job Enmore I will always thank you

[mickylad]

Thumb nail photography by Harry Goodwin TOTP photographer 1964-1973 picture taken at the factory 1979 Curtis asked Harry if he could have a picture for his mother

[bishvegas]

The mad thing is, He didn't have a clue what he was doing.

[crose]

3:04 That's the aforementioned Synare on 'Insight', not a synthesiser.