Today, exactly 38 years ago, Joy Division released their second and final studio album, Closer. It was released on 18 July 1980 on the renowned UK label Factory Records exactly two months after the tragic suicide of lead singer Ian Curtis (18 May 1980). Today, Closer is still considered as one of the major releases of the New-Wave and Post-Punk era.

The songs on Closer were drawn from two distinct periods. The earlier guitar-driven compositions like Atrocity Exhibition, A Means to an End, Colony, Passover and 24 Hours were written during the latter half of 1979. The other songs like Isolation, Decades, The Eternal and Heart and Soul were written in early 1980 and included more prominent use of electronics and synthesizers.

Regarding the album's lyrical content, Bernard Sumner recollected: "We'd go to rehearsals and sit around and talk about really banal things. We'd do that until we couldn't talk about banal things any more, then we'd pick up our instruments and record into a little cassette player. We didn't talk about the music or the lyrics very much. We never analyzed it”. Bernard also remembers Ian Curtis saying he was feeling strange because “he felt like all his words were writing themselves. He also said that he had this terrible claustrophobic feeling that he was in a whirlpool and being pulled down, drowning."

Closer was recorded between 18–30 March 1980 at Britannia Row Studios in London. It was produced by Martin Hannett. His production has been highly praised by the music press. However, as with their debut album, both Hook and Sumner were unhappy with Hannett's work. Peter Hook later complained that the track "Atrocity Exhibition" was mixed on one of his days off and when he heard the final product was disappointed that the abrasiveness of his guitar part had been laden with effects and toned down. He wrote; "I was like, head in hands, oh fucking hell, it's happening again. Unknown Pleasures number two... Martin [Hannett] had melted the guitar with his Marshall Time Waster. Made it sound like somebody strangling a cat, and to my mind, absolutely killed the song. I was so annoyed with him and went in and gave him a piece of my mind but he just turned around and told me to fuck off."

The album cover was designed by Martyn Atkins and Peter Saville, with a photograph of a Italian tomb on the sleeve. Designer Peter Saville commented that he, upon learning of singer Ian Curtis's suicide, expressed immediate concern over the album's design as it depicted a funeral theme, remarking "we've got a tomb on the cover of the album!"

Closer as a 12” vinyl album reached No. 6 on the UK Albums Chart. The Album was also chosen as Album of The Year by NME and is still placed highly in various top 10 lists like Best Album of the 80s (Slant Magazine, Pitchfork Magazine, Q magazine, …) and number two on Sonic Seducers “10 key Goth albums”. It got 10/10 review scores by Akk Music, NME, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone album guide, Select, Spin Alternative Record Guide, Uncut and the Encyclopedia of Popular Music

By 1982, the album had sold over 250,000 copies worldwide.

Shortly after this release the remaining members chose New Order as their new and future band name.

Closer
Side A

1. Atrocity Exhibition
2. Isolation
3. Passover
4. Colony
5. A Means to an End

Side B
6. Heart and Soul
7. Twenty Four Hours
8. The Eternal
9. Decades

All songs written by Ian Curtis, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner.

DIRK DA DAVO - mostly known from his past with THE NEON JUDGEMENT and on top of that pacemaker of NEON ELECTRONICS - has not been on holiday after ending THE NEON JUDGEMENT in 2015. For the last 2 years DDD focused on digital EP releases through his label dancedelicd.com.

There were PROTEST EP, Dirk's first solo work since 1987! DDDJMX EP, co-operating with the fabulous JMX aka JEAN - MARIE AERTS, who along with LUC VAN ACKER produced The Neon Judgement's BLOOD AND THUNDER album (1989). 3DFLY EP, co-operating with MAKE MAKENA who formerly co-worked with SCREAMING TREES, THE THE, BOOTSY COLLINS and many more...

CONCERT DATES NEON ELECTRONICS/NE:

5th October: MATRIX, Bochum (Germany)

6th October: JH WOMMEL, Wommelgem (Belgium)

www.dancedelicd.com

Your beloved FREE underground music zine Peek-a-Boo is out there again!
This time with a feature interview with the notorious American Goth Rockers Christian Death! For this special occasion the band decided to treat our readers with two (temporary) free downloads of their song Peek-a-Boo, taken from their Born Again Anit-Christian album (1990).
Peek-a-Boo
Peek-a-Boo (Cradle Of Filth version)

Reviews within this magazine

• ANDERS MANGA : Perfectly Stranger
• APSURDE : See Me Coming
• ASTRASONIC : Passengers
• CONSPIRACY COVEN : Conspiracy Coven
• DARKNESS ON DEMAND : Back To Psychoburbia
• FERAL BODY : Chain Ritual
• HA:PEOPLE 355 : One Bear, Two Bicycles And One Xylophone
• JOHN FOXX : METAMATIC (2018 BOX)
• LIZARD SMILE : Wandering in Mirrors
• NEGANT : No !
• PAULINA CASSIDY : Drawing Up A Storm
• SIMPLE MINDS : Walk Between Worlds
• STRUCK9 : Ritual Body Music

• ANYTHING : directed by Timothy McNeil
• DER HAUPTMANN : (2017) German-Polish-French biographical drama, black & white, directed by Robert Schwentke based on true facts.

Interviews within this magazine

• CHRISTIAN DEATH
• DANA CALLEY (VAPORS OF MORPHINE)
• DANIEL B / PROTHESE
• DISTRICT 13
• GROUND NERO
• LEAETHER STRIP
• LIZARD SMILE
• PERSEPHONE
• WHISPERS IN THE SHADOW

www.peek-a-boo-magazine.be/en/magazines

Today it’s exactly 27 years ago (27.07.1992) Ministry released the first single, N.W.O. (New World Order) taken from their fifth studio album ΚΕΦΑΛΗΞΘ better known as Psalm 69. The single is considered Ministry's biggest hit, topping out on the Billboard Modern Rock chart at no. 11. The song was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 1993.
The song is widely regarded as a protest against then-President George H. W. Bush. The song features audio samples of his voice, with him repeating "A new world order" over and over again at the end of the song. At this point of the song in the music video, Bush is portrayed by an actor with an enormous papier-mâché head, grabbing his crotch and waving his arms. Samples from Apocalypse Now are included in this track: Dennis Hopper's character exclaiming "It's alright!" as the patrol boat is approaching the colonel's fort, as well as the siren that was used during the scene. There is also a loop of the guitar solo coming from a transistor radio in the grenade launcher's bunker.
Next to the album version and the over eight minute long Extended Dance Mix of the title track, there's also the non-album bonus track Fucked writen by Paul Barker and Howard Beno.The cover artwork was designed by Paul Elledge.

N.W.O
Track listing

1. N.W.O. (Album Edit)
2. Fucked
3. N.W.O. (Extended Dance mix)

Lyrics

All the locals hide their tears of regret
Open fire 'cause I love you to death
Sky high, with a heartache of stone
You'll never see me 'cause I'm always alone

How to love without a trace of dissent
I'll buy the torture 'cause you pay for the rent
Tied high with a broken command
You're all alone to the promised land

I'm in love with this malicious intent
You've been taken but you don't know it yet
What you will know must never live to be found
'Cause it's the subject of the eyes of the clown

writen by: Al Jourgensen / Paul G. Barker

The Kinky Star in Ghent and gothzine Dark Entries regularly organize the Dark Entries Nights, free performances by bands from the local wave and electro scene. This evening is the 23rd edition and there’s dark ambient and EBM on the programme.

Dead Man's Hill is a cult in Poland and Russia. Bart Piette's project started in 1998 as dark ambient and martial but gradually became more symphonic. Since 2013, Els also plays in the band. They will not only bring songs from their extensive repertoire but also new songs.

Causenation started in 2015. Initially, they wanted to make music in the Belgian EBM tradition but gradually they took a more dark turn. It is the first time the group will perform since they became a trio consisting of Vain Sancrosanct, 0.77 and Talking Jazz.

The performances will take place on Friday 29th June at The Kinky Star, Vlasmarkt 9 in Ghent. Entrance is free. Afterwards an after-party takes place with DJ Drexl

www.facebook.com/events/1037612653058072