Rarely Heard: Low - Transmission

"Formed in Duluth, Minnesota, in 1993, Low were perhaps the slowest of the so-called "slowcore" bands -- delicate, austere, and hypnotic, the trio's music rarely rose above a whisper, divining its dramatic tension in the unsettling open spaces created by the absence of sound." (Allmusic,com) I have their album Things We Lost in the Fir, which is considered their best and most accessible album, and can recommend it very much. Their version of Joy Division's Transmission was their contribution to the tribute album A Means to an End: The Music of Joy Division.

Rarely Heard: Warsaw - At a Later Date

Before Joy Division released their first album, Unknown Pleasures, (and became known as one of the best bands in rock history) they performed under the name Warsaw and actually recorded a full album under that name in 1977, which only was released much later in 1994. The songs are mostly known in their Joy Division versions, but on Warsaw they are much more punkier: raw and more agressive, but already you can hear their craftmanship and the sheer energy we know so well. Warsaw is maybe not that rarely heard, but always worth a new listening.

From my vaults: Ian Curtis

Bio:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Curtis

Songs in the key of my life: Joy Division - Komakino

I'm ashamed to admit that I came across Joy Divison much too late. That is: I did know about the band and I was intending to look into their music some time later, but Ian Curtis commited suicide and that was the end of the band named Joy Division (the remaining members continued as the immensely successful New Order). In 1980 the single 'Komakino' was released posthumously as a 7" flexi disc limited to 10,000 copies and given away free in selected record shops and it was introduced on that Bavarian radio show I have already mentioned so often. The song is quite unusual compared to the band's previous releases, it is driven by a more tribal beat and appears like as if mechanically driven, of course the result of the band's impeccable timing. Still, it undoubtedly couldn't be mistaken that this is any other band than Joy Division, and this particular last title might have been directing to what they would be doing in the future. This song led me to purchase all of their previous music, and I can easily say Joy Division is one of the best and most important bands in rock history. There is not a single song by them that is less than perfect.

A Song a Day

Joy Division - I Remember Nothing

Joy Division are one of the giants of my youth, and they will accompany me for the rest of my life for certain.

This live version is so amazing touching onto industrial, it's pure genius. I recommend to play it loud as possible.