Today it’s exactly 42 years ago since Joy Division released their debut studio album Unknown Pleasures (15 June 1979) on the renowned label Factory Records. The album was recorded and mixed in only three successive weekends in April of the same year and was produced by Martin Hannet who incorporated a number of unconventional recording and production techniques into the group's sound.

The cover artwork was designed by artist Peter Saville while the centre sleeve depicts "100 consecutive pulses from the pulsar CP 1919" as found by Bernard Sumner in The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of Astronomy (See more about the artwork in the video below)

It is the only Joy Division album that was released during lead singer Ian Curtis's lifetime.

Initially, sales of Unknown Pleasures were slow until the release of the non-album single, 'Transmission'. The album sold over 5000 copies within the first week of it's release, 20.000 copies were sold within the first year. However the album did not chart until it was reissued after the suicide of singer Ian Curtis. Then the album peaked at #71 in the UK Album Charts in August 1980 while it reached No.2 in the UK indie charts and spent 136 weeks in the chart in total. Factory Records did not release any singles from Unknown Pleasures,

It has since received sustained critical acclaim as an influential post-punk album and has been named as one of the best albums of all-time by publications such as NME, AllMusic, Select and Spin.

Instead of side A and B the sides were named Outside and Inside.

Unknown Pleasures - tracklist
A Outside

1. Disorder
2. Day Of The Lords
3. Candidate
4. Insight
5. New Dawn Fades

B Inside

1. She’s Lost Control
2. Shadowplay
3. Wilderness
4. Interzone
5. I Remember Nothing

DISCOGS

Five years ago Werner Karloff started his international career with the release of the album "Tanz der Automaten". He was the first Non-German artist in the now globally successful record label "Young and Cold Records"
At that time his album was released on CD. Now is the time to release this masterpiece on vinyl!

wernerkarloff.bandcamp.com/album/tanz-der-automaten-lp?from=fanpub_fnb_merch

The brand new fourth album from classic goth revivalists Sonsombre!

With haunting visuals and sharp songwriting steeped in Sisters Of Mercy/Christian Death/The Cure, Sonsombre have an irresistible appeal to fans of the genre!

The band have been performing virtual concerts and have been invited to perform at high profile festivals including Absolution Fest with headliners Drab Majesty!

This new album is pressed on special black and white MARBLE vinyl and should be released half June 2021.

sonsombre.bandcamp.com/album/revival?from=fanpub_nfnb

Cleopatra Records celebrates an 80s dance club classic, Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love,” with a collection of remixes and versions, all compiled in a nice Digi-Pack-release.

It includes a never-before-released instrumental mix, a vocal-only mix and a brand new remix by German producer DJ Hell.

Bonus track features a rare duet with Andi Sex Gang from 1983.

You want it really exclusive? Try to get your hands on the very limited PINK 7" vinyl-version or the PURPLE 12" vinyl-version.

softcell.bandcamp.com/album/tainted-love?from=fanpub_nfnb_merch

Toronto-based alternative/industrial band CARBON MARTYR have just unleashed their debut full-length album, A Soft Spot For The Broken.

A Soft Spot For The Broken: The underlying message revolves around mankind and technology. This manifests in a few different ways, from thoughts of a future where we become over-dependent on technology, to simpler ideas like social media addiction, information manipulation and group identity trends.

The album also explores some spiritual questions relating to our constantly changing relationship with the world around us.

A Soft Spot For The Broken is available in digital format.

For fans of: KMFDM, NIN & CHEMLAB

www.machinemusicunited.com