Atmosphere

Hey Guys n' Gals,

Just a little question about the Joy Division song "Atmosphere".

Do you guys like the Joy Division version or the New Order version better?

I'm hunching 99% of you guys (n' gals) are going to say the original Joy Division version, yet who knows, some may like Summer's vocals better.

I love the sombre tone of the Joy Division version BTW. ;)

I would have to say JD. I don't think Sumner's voice is powerful enough to bring out the true emotion of the song.

Yeah I think the JD version is really powerful, also does anyone think this song is kind of 'haunting' considering the tone and you know, what happened to the lead singer?

It's haunting when you watch the video. Watching the little people dressed like monks carrying portraits of Ian does send chills down my spine.

Speaking of which, Ahmed did you catch the run of Joy Division and New Order clips "Rage" played a couple of months ago?

That was great. ;)

Originally posted by Chris Zjvenachi Speaking of which, Ahmed did you catch the run of Joy Division and New Order clips "Rage" played a couple of months ago?That was great. ;)

It was very good, but i wished they coul dhave spent some more time with the new order clips. I liked how they ran into it with JD songs and finished with works from the various side progects but they coul dhave devoted mote time to playing the NO songs

Alas, my biggest regret that night was that I was so damn tired I crashed after 'True Faith', if only I had the sense to pop in a casette and tape it.

Still, there's nothing like falling asleep watching weird people in costumes jump about to a great track. :lol

I certainly did watch it. I even taped it but it didn't come out to well. I think the tape I used was wrecked.

I also caught Rock Family Trees last Monday where they talked about the Manchester scene. They had plenty of NO/JD footage and interviews.

Originally posted by Ahmad Daizli I also caught Rock Family Trees last Monday where they talked about the Manchester scene. They had plenty of NO/JD footage and interviews.

Shit....I missed that Rock Family Trees again...I thought it was a very good series, have many stuff on late '70's and early 80's, the one I saw many years ago on SBS...

BTW I've taped that RAGE NO/JD nite...if you guys want a copy, I can do a tape-to-tape but my ABC reception that night also wasn't that good....it depends on clouds/ planets alignment above.....hee-hee.

Yeah I caught rock family trees, it kicked butt.

Also re: the copy, how much would you like for one? And thanks for the offer. ;)

JD's version

I have to go for Joy Division's original. Though i must say i am pleasantly surprised with NEw Order doing A. , especially live, impressing. As are all the old JD songs they've started to play again.

Ian Curtis belongs to the song Atmosphere. Without him, you have no atmosphere (excuse the pun ... or wasn't there wun).

Bernard tries his best, in a kind of, I'll sing it like it was a throw-away B-Side from 1984 and not the stone monument of a hardcore beneath the skin creeping flesh gladiator of a track it is.

Saying that, I find Benny's unassuming singing style on 'I Wish Love Would Tear Me A New Partition in the Front Room' a most poignant and intriguing mixture of little boy lost amongst a throng of 'geetarz and soulful splendour. Curtis sings it best though.

Conversely, Ian could never extract the complete beauty of the mid-eighties multi-platinum selling hit 'Tempting Miss Daisy' in quite the same way Barry can.

Its a thoughtful discussion I may re-visit during a forthcoming bath.

Gee whiz, where have you been, Huntso?

You've got a good point there, Huntsman. Indeed , the song is Ian Curtis. What i sensed at the concerts last year was that the boys where able to express a great deal of the power the original J.D. one has naturally. Hasn't Barneys singing technique always been controversial? does this still make any sense at all ?

You've got a good point there, Huntsman. Indeed , the song is Ian Curtis. What i sensed at the concerts last year was that the boys where able to express a great deal of the power the original J.D. one has naturally. Hasn't Barneys singing technique always been controversial? does this still make any sense at all ?

Now why is my computer taking ages again to submit reply???? I must really stop myself from pressing the submit button...don't wanna carry on as quadro-poster no more

You've got a good point there, Huntsman. Indeed , the song is Ian Curtis. What i sensed at the concerts last year was that the boys where able to express a great deal of the power the original J.D. one has naturally. Hasn't Barneys singing technique always been controversial? does this still make any sense at all ?

Now why is my computer taking ages again to submit reply???? I must really stop myself from pressing the submit button...don't wanna carry on as quadro-poster no more

Super Mario you are correct in your assesment of the fabled Curtis character. His voice is unique. Odd, mystical, deep, sullen, enchanting, rough, wide, deliberate. Can't quite pidgeon hole this fella, he's just one of those greats that comes along every decade or so. This means that when the man sings, no-one will ever do it better ... including Barnstormer.

The only freakish aspect is that Bernard himself has such an other worldly voice. Poles apart but equally mythical.

Ian could never sing Barney's parts as well as Barney, and vice-versa. How odd that both people sang with the same band, if you know what I mean.

See what i bloody mean!! I couldn't resist the temptation of pressing the darn button!!

Patty I've been posting but not too much ... been up to my eyeballs in it.

Dead right you are Huntsy. Bernards voice is just as unique and mystic and what not as Ian's. Did they ever sang together on any J.D. song? I mean , together, not just some backing or chorus stuff.

Patty you writing Gee Whizz has just made my night though ... that's the American equivalent of us writing 'Shite Hawks' or something.

I'll have to leg it again, so I'll get back with you soon for a gabble (which is UK for talk).

Huntsy, I thought that Mr. Curtis's voice was "enhanced" to make it sound deep but that it was not naturally so. Did I dream that? As I've said before, what I mainly dislike about JD is the vocals.

What about Cheese Whiz, Huntsy? Or don't you guys have that?

The live take from '85 is alright, but the original still stands

When I first heard New Order play it, which if memory serves me correctly might have been the CLP show in December 85, I was quite moved by what a faithful and poignant rendition they did. However, apart from on one or two occasions since, they have butchered it with inane whoops and excessive guitar. They take the magic away from the JD recording by playing it live now. I wish they wouldn't do it live!!!

I've never seen NO in concert so I am eager to hear Atmosphere, even if it is not the best, the 'feeling' will still be there, but kind of like a 'poor man's' Atmosphere, excuse the heresy. ;)

The Muffster was able to provide me with my oppertunity to hear Atmos live, so perhaps if you're nice enough he'll help you out. The PCL show should've been an offical release, it's fucking hilarious

Huntsy, if you happen to read this (or anyone else who's interested): if I am correct that Ian Curtis's voice was artificially deepened, does this fact not have any effect on your feelings about the vocals?

Depends on how much they deepened it (In other words, if he sounded like a high-pitched parakeet on the original)

The live version on Les Bains doesn't seem like his voice is any higher, but I imagine if they altered it in studio then they may very well do so live.

Tabsy, I thought that someone had recently posted here to the effect that his real voice was in fact closer to a high pitched parakeet than to what you hear on the recordings. On this subject, are you familiar with Lifehouse? It's my impression they do something similar with their singer's voice.

I always wonder about Mariah Carey, how she has such a high octave on recordings but whe you hear her talk she sounds nothing like what you'd imagine from hearing one of her *godawful* songs...

I always figured that Ian, having never really actually sung according to Debbie, was just learning when Warsaw started but developed his voice later on with UP and Closer. Of course a little electronic assistance might have been required.

As for the Lifehouse singer, he's crap anyway (sorry if I offended any fans), so they probably need all the help they can get

Speaking of MC, isn't it satisfying to see her career going up in flames?

I tend to go for the Russ Abbott version myself :)

Originally posted by Chris Z Also re: the copy, how much would you like for one? And thanks for the offer. ;)

No worries, Chris.....I'll send you a copy free but bear in mind the quality's not top notch....just email me your address. BTW, have you got any live NO discs to lend?

No see-ye, I am hoping at the Sydney Show, some bootleggers will be selling some New Order live CD's amongst any T-shirts etc.

Re: the tape, your going to the Sydney Show aren't you, would it be easier for you to bring it there?

If not, that's cool.

Either way, just let me know, and thanks. ;)