Upcoming Closer 40th Anniversary & JD Singles Reissues

Just noticed this myself and came here to post.

Glad they’ve stuck to the ‘40th anniversary ruby red’ theme and pleased that the singles are getting a reissue.

What is interesting is that, according to the website track listing, the LWTUA 12" doesn't include the 'Pennine' version.

NotAMod wrote:

Transmish, Atmosphere and LWTUA are also getting 12" single reissues (for the first time in their cases, I think?)

All reissued on 12' throughout the 80's and 90's, but LWTUA reissued in 2011 in Russia.

perspexorange wrote: What is interesting is that, according to the website track listing, the LWTUA 12" doesn't include the 'Pennine' version.

It does.

Johnny James wrote:

perspexorange wrote: What is interesting is that, according to the website track listing, the LWTUA 12" doesn't include the 'Pennine' version.

It does.

Great! Thanks J.

Pretty feeble, but yeah, after Heart and Souled Out and Brown Owl there can't be much to put out - except maybe the 7.77 demo, but that's shit.

Any idea why the singles are newly remastered but the album isn’t?

The Ruts wrote:

NotAMod wrote:

Transmish, Atmosphere and LWTUA are also getting 12" single reissues (for the first time in their cases, I think?)

All reissued on 12' throughout the 80's and 90's, but LWTUA reissued in 2011 in Russia.

What year was Transmission previously reissued? I didn't know that.I remember Love Will Tear Us Apart being reissued in autumn 1983.Well at least i think it was a reissue, i remember it re-entering the UK chart around that time or getting a lot of radio play and was the first time i became aware of the song.I guess if it was a reissue it was Factory pushing it again after the success of Blue Monday that year.

I remember Atmosphere being reissued in 1988, think it had a different sleeve though i didn't buy it as i already had the 1980 12" with She's Lost Control b side (i hadn't bought it in 1980, i first became aware of it in 1984 which was when i bought it).Seem to recall there was a bit of a hoohah about the then new Anton Corbijn 1988 vid for the song

Edit: Discogs states if I’ve understood correctly that Transmission had a UK reissue in 1984.

Fotz wrote:

Edit: Discogs states if I’ve understood correctly that Transmission had a UK reissue in 1984.

Yip.

I'm surprised that they weren't reissued after the 12x12 campaign proved to be a success.

Fotz wrote: I remember Love Will Tear Us Apart being reissued in autumn 1983.Well at least i think it was a reissue, i remember it re-entering the UK chart around that time or getting a lot of radio play and was the first time i became aware of the song.I guess if it was a reissue it was Factory pushing it again after the success of Blue Monday that year.

LWTUA was certainly in the charts in late 1983. It reached number 19 in the week ending 19/11/83.

I was recently listening to an audio interview with Hooky from the same period (the one on the bootleg 12" picture disc) and he addresses the 're-release' of LWTUA.

He said in this (very prickly) interview that it was not 're-released'. He goes on to explain that, at that point, none of JD's singles had ever gone out of print. He stated that 'Scott' at 'Rough Trade' (who was distributing some Factory releases) occasionally 'did them a favour' and issued press releases, which made it seem that certain records has been re-released. This is what happened in this case.

So, presumably, Rough Trade issued a press release about LWTUA and this pushed sales of the record up.

Listening to Hooky, although he appreciated that 'Scott' was 'doing them a favour', he was obviously annoyed that Rough Trade had issued this "shitty press release" (without telling the band / Factory, apparently). He was obviously irked that people might've thought they were trying to cash in on Ian's death, or that they were playing the 'promotion game'. Again, this is also a good example of New Order's unconventional method of 'selling themselves' in the 80s.

What's always puzzled me about the Joy Division 12"s is that, in the case of 'Transmission' and 'LWYUA', there's no difference in the contents between the 7" and the 12". I know that 12"s are better quality, but would the average punter have known that? What incentive was there for people to buy the 12"s at the time, when the (presumably) cheaper 7" with the same tracks was available?

Incidentally, just bought the LP / 12" bundle from the New Order Store. £44.75 including postage. Not too bad. I'm guessing Amazon may be the slightly cheaper option once these are listed on that site.

Anyone in Oz see a better option than Piccadilly? JB's prices are taking the piss

perspexorange wrote: What's always puzzled me about the Joy Division 12"s is that, in the case of 'Transmission' and 'LWYUA', there's no difference in the contents between the 7" and the 12". I know that 12"s are better quality, but would the average punter have known that? What incentive was there for people to buy the 12"s at the time, when the (presumably) cheaper 7" with the same tracks was available?

Off this topic, but I always wondered the same years later with 'World In Motion'. Why didn't Stephen Hague make a nice extended twelve inch mix - or at the very least they could have moved the tracks from the second remix 12" onto the main 12" to make it the only 12" release.

Kind of similar to 'True Faith', which had identical versions of '1963' on 7" and main 12", but with just an extra minute and a half of 'True Faith' on the 12" compared to the single edit.

perspexorange wrote: What's always puzzled me about the Joy Division 12"s is that, in the case of 'Transmission' and 'LWYUA', there's no difference in the contents between the 7" and the 12". I know that 12"s are better quality, but would the average punter have known that? What incentive was there for people to buy the 12"s at the time, when the (presumably) cheaper 7" with the same tracks was available?

The sleeves.

Saville did nice, new sleeves.

With vinyl being the dominant format of the time, I can see Rob Gretton pushing to get 12" versions into the marketplace because the sound quality was better. Also, it was impossible to find the rare Sordide Sentimental single of Atmosphere - and it would be another year before Still was released - so it was important to get that back into the marketplace to head off the bootlegs. And since LWTUA and Atmosphere were available on 12", then why not Transmission, too? That's a very Factory way of thinking, since the 12" came out 14 months after the 7".

It was a way to keep product available as Joy Division's fanbase and legacy was building, and gave the fans something "new."

perspexorange wrote:

He goes on to explain that, at that point, none of JD's singles had ever gone out of print.

This makes sense. I don't ever remember NOT seeing the LWTUA and Atmosphere 12"s in the racks from the time I got into JD/NO (circa 1985/86) through to the mid 90s when records were starting to be trounced by CD sales

You only have to take a look at the discogs pages for these records to see how many pressing variations there have been over the years. It's actually quite hard to figure out the year of some pressings for that reason

Doesn't look like this Closer re-press is getting the rounded inner/matte textured sleeve treatment. That's a shame. There is not enough here to tempt me to buy again after getting the 2015 180gm black vinyl pressing (which still seems widely available?)

50poundnote wrote: then why not Transmission, too? That's a very Factory way of thinking, since the 12" came out 14 months after the 7".

It was a way to keep product available as Joy Division's fanbase and legacy was building, and gave the fans something "new."

I’d forgotten that the 12” came out later (or maybe I never knew this). Thanks for reminding me and I think you’re right.

Agreed on the nice new sleeves. LWTUA 12” sleeve is beautiful and looks wonderful in the large format.

All three 12"s were 'retrospective' releases at the time. I guess LWTUA was the only one planned as a new release before the end.

It seems likely the original intention with re-recording SLC in March 1980 was for a US release with this new 'disco' version on the A side. My guess is that events meant that the original release idea became something else by the time it eventually came out (in December I think). Though they had SLC as the A side in the US, but with Atmosphere over here.

Transmission 12" was also put out around December.

Thanks for this information, Johnny.

I hadn't even realised that the tracks were reversed between the US and UK releases of 'Atmosphere / SLC'. I wonder which version mine is. Most of my vinyl is currently in storage, so can't check.

To me, I always picture this release as a release of that 'disco mix' of 'She's Lost Control', with 'Atmosphere' put on the other side, just so that people who weren't fortunate enough to get a copy of 'Licht Und Blindheit' could get hold of the track (presumably, this is also the reason why 'Dead Souls' is on 'Still').

So, whenever I see that snow-filled cover, I always think of 'She's Lost Control'. So it seems strange (to me, at least) to see that cover on the store but with it advertised as 'Atmosphere'. It's correct of course, but just that my mind tells me different. :-)

perspexorange wrote: whenever I see that snow-filled cover, I always think of 'She's Lost Control'. So it seems strange (to me, at least) to see that cover on the store but with it advertised as 'Atmosphere'. It's correct of course, but just that my mind tells me different. :-)

Funny, i always think of Atmosphere when i see that cover with the snowy field and the trees.Just checked my 12" and Atmosphere is the A side on mine.A side and B side marked clearly on the disc's labels.

John Lennon saw Ian Curtis on 19 May. He said, Let me take you down... It was nothing to get hung about. How do I do it? I had the interview Mr Orange discusses on 7' picture disc. It was total and utter fucking shit. The interviewer was shit and Hooky was shit. You'd think one of them would be Not Shit just by the law of averages. Cool. You're probably right about identical 12" tracks - they were handsome products but you couldn't really remix Transmission, unless you were Hooky in 2018. Atmosphere was a different case and had little to do with Sordid Sentimentale: new packaging, new Bsides, even new video. Slightly off topic, but I don't consider the Factory compilations - Substance 87, Substance 88, even Still - as ripoffs cos the band were actively involved and they were bringing out rare material. When I first heard Substance, I only 'knew' BM (that shitty 88 7" compromise), TLU (a crappy radio edit that lost all the lush intro) and TF (its equally crappy 7" compromise). For me, the bullshit started with TF 94, arguably Spooky, cos the mixes were pointless and the group weren't even talking ti each other.

Michael Monkhouse wrote: I had the interview Mr Orange discusses on 7' picture disc. It was total and utter fucking shit. The interviewer was shit and Hooky was shit.

The interviewer is just terrible. I know Hooky is in a completely cantankerous mood, but the interviewer is awful. Every time he mentions anything to Hooky that Hooky disagrees with, the interviewer then backs down and ends up agreeing with him. He just completely lets Hooky steamroll him.

I wonder who the interviewer was and whether he improved his technique.

The 7” and the 12” are the same interview; just different bits of it.

Oh, and yeah, the terrible remixing certainly started around then. However, I would bring it forward two singles.

Those Sly and Robbie remixes for RIAD were just the pits.

It’s funny, but at that point in New Order’s history, we had very little inkling about how bad the remixing was going to get (both in quality and quantity). ‘Regret’ wasn’t served with particularly good remixes (the New Order one and the Fire Island one being reasonable, but the rest being pretty poor), but we really had no idea that the shitstorm of terrible remixes was just around the corner.

I remember that, at the time, I really couldn’t believe that all the mixes on that second RIAD CD were so bad. In fact, I think I thought my CD was faulty, with the same remix being repeated throughout the disc.

I'm surprised the marketeers haven't reissued the flexi-disc on 7" vinyl as it's directly linked to 'Closer' and could have been something different for collectors, even though I'm not one.

Re JD 'Still' was good but could have been even better and sequenced chronologically if they removed the pointless Sister Ray live on the studio side.

I hadn’t thought about the flexi.

I guess it’s a bit like the Procession 7”, which wasn’t reissued at the time that the Ceremony, EGG and Temptation 12”s were.

I wonder if there’s a possibility that we may get some 7” releases further down the line. It may be, though, that there isn’t really a market for 7”s. And, besides, the band (well, New Order, at least) - they were all about the 12”.

Yeah, that happened to me too with the second Ruined CD. I genuinely thought the player was buggered and on repeat. I was still a completist and had a complete backlog that only contsined remixes of they had both the full vocal and radically different backing music. The entire 94 to 95 period only yielded four that qualified: TF Perfecto, 1963 95 and Vanilli vocal, BM Andrea. I'm amazed the band emerged with their credibility intact.

I know I’ve probably said this many times before, both here and on JD Central, but I would love for a DVD to be released with all the Joy Division material available.

If the ‘powers that be’ are reading this, please give it some thought:

‘Granada Reports’ 20/09/78 - Shadowplay ‘What’s On’ 19/07/79 - ‘She’s Lost Control’ ’Something Else’ 15/09/79 - ‘Transmission’, Interview, ‘She’s Lost Control’ ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ video (possibly include the three versions out there; double-tracked vocals, standard version, '95 version) ‘Atmosphere’ promo video ‘Joy Division’- Malcolm Whitehead film (inc. Bowden Vale 14/03/79 footage) * ‘No City Fun’ film Plan K, Brussels 16/10/79 Apollo 27/10/79 Apollo 28/10/79 Eindhoven 18/01/80

That’s enough for 2 x DVDs. Maybe re-issue the magnificent Grant Gee documentary on Blu-Ray and sling all of the above as bonus features.

I know there’s an issue of the quality in source material for most of this, but I don’t think most people would mind. It would mostly be bought by fans who would probably be very familiar with the fact that the quality isn’t the best.

I know I’m repeating myself here, but I like to think that the more I post it, the more likelihood that someone with influence will see it.

* Incidentally, I think Hooky has mentioned recently that the Whitehead movie may be released at some point. I certainly hope so! If I think about it, I might try and ask him about this on his next live chat.

I never repeat myself. I told you before. - Hear hear. You could probably just dig it all out of the Net and make your own collection. The majors never get it right.

Michael Monkhouse wrote: You could probably just dig it all out of the Net and make your own collection. The majors never get it right.

Well, yes, but it would be nice to have:

a) an official release (i.e. one that gives the band money and with a Saville design, perhaps); b) the best quality available for each item.

Also, the Whitehead movie, the Plan K footage and some footage from the two Apollo gigs aren't available on the 'net, so these would be 'exclusives' and a good reason for fans to buy the release. Who knows, maybe that Leigh Festival footage does exist and could be included. Even more reason to buy.

It's a pipe dream, I know, but one day, maybe...

Besides, the majors do get it right sometimes. Look at the wonderful 'Movement' box set! Now that was a fine collection.

Then I calculate a grand total of one worthwhile rehash every 40 years. I studied at Cambridge. I wouldn't worry about the band getting paid. Given their output they're bleeding lucky. In 1996 they had sixteen million - not bad considering they hadn't completed an album in over three yeats, and that one was shit. And after Saville knocked himself out with that ''art''work for TF 94, 12 x 12 and Singles... How does he do it? Don't hold your breath.

I realised earlier that I'd never listened to 'The Idiot' - only 4 quid on iTunes. 👌

What's smelly, bores the fuck out of you and pays three cunts' rent? Ian.

M1 wrote: Anyone in Oz see a better option than Piccadilly? JB's prices are taking the piss

JB's prices for these are truly extortionate but this is more about the basket case that is Inertia/Warner AU than JB. Even buying them direct from Warner's AU store will set you back well over $200. There'll be some copies hitting smaller retailers but I wouldn't be surprised if they're asking for $50 a 12".

I'm not up with Piccadilly's AU shipping rates but to be honest you could do far worse than grabbing the bundle from the New Order store.

Cheaper again is the Warner EU store, with underquoted AU shipping prices here. Assuming they'll be back to regular shipping schedules come July.

M1 wrote: Anyone in Oz see a better option than Piccadilly? JB's prices are taking the piss

Oz pricing derived from what Warners themselves are charging, which generally speaking is a shit-tonne these days. I mean AU$50 for a 12" FFS...

I typically go through one of the Indie stores here in Brisbane, like Sonic Sherpa or Rocking Horse; both of which have membership programs where u get 10/15% off and get that smug feeling for supporting an Indie store over a JB or similar...

D

Peter Saville was on 6Music to day and talked a little about the small changes to the UP and Closer reissue sleeves 2 hours and 4 minutes in here

Thanks Fotz. I would've missed this.

A fascinating discussion. Great to hear his thoughts on the sleeve changes and whether he thinks they will work at this early stage.

Also very interesting to hear his thoughts on the four group members.

Thanks once again.

perspexorange wrote:

Also very interesting to hear his thoughts on the four group members.

Yes , think he said if he had to choose between the 4 of them which one he had to sit next to on a long flight he would choose Steve.

depthcharge wrote:

M1 wrote: Anyone in Oz see a better option than Piccadilly? JB's prices are taking the piss

JB's prices for these are truly extortionate but this is more about the basket case that is Inertia/Warner AU than JB. Even buying them direct from Warner's AU store will set you back well over $200. There'll be some copies hitting smaller retailers but I wouldn't be surprised if they're asking for $50 a 12".

I'm not up with Piccadilly's AU shipping rates but to be honest you could do far worse than grabbing the bundle from the New Order store.

Cheaper again is the Warner EU store, with underquoted AU shipping prices here. Assuming they'll be back to regular shipping schedules come July.

Piccadilly is about half of Warner and a third of JB. They remove the VAT, don't charge the GST and postage is better than most. If I don't get it locally, Piccadilly has been my go-to for some time

Fotz wrote:

perspexorange wrote:

Also very interesting to hear his thoughts on the four group members.

Yes , think he said if he had to choose between the 4 of them which one he had to sit next to on a long flight he would choose Steve.

I think I'd be reaching for the oxygen mask if I was sat next to Bass Thruster. "I used to be in a band" ARGH!

Maybe could have a conversation about yachts with Bernard although my yachting knowledge is limited.

I'd spend a year next to Spazzy Morris. Anything to keep The Other Two out of the studio. Apologies. He's their secret weapon!

M1 wrote: Piccadilly is about half of Warner and a third of JB. They remove the VAT, don't charge the GST and postage is better than most.

My basket comparisons pulled different results.

WarnerStore and Piccadilly approx the same landed. $2-3 dollars variation with currency movements. I don’t think either charge GST so there’s a risk at customs.

NewOrder Store about $18 more. Warner AU 50% more. JB double.

Local indie stores won’t be forced to deal with Warner AU so are likely to end up more than Piccadilly/WS, but less than JB.

TL;DR - Stick with Piccadilly if you’re only focussed on price!

perspexorange wrote: Oh, and yeah, the terrible remixing certainly started around then. However, I would bring it forward two singles.

Those Sly and Robbie remixes for RIAD were just the pits.

It’s funny, but at that point in New Order’s history, we had very little inkling about how bad the remixing was going to get (both in quality and quantity). ‘Regret’ wasn’t served with particularly good remixes (the New Order one and the Fire Island one being reasonable, but the rest being pretty poor), but we really had no idea that the shitstorm of terrible remixes was just around the corner.

I remember that, at the time, I really couldn’t believe that all the mixes on that second RIAD CD were so bad. In fact, I think I thought my CD was faulty, with the same remix being repeated throughout the disc.

to me, most of the music complete mixes were just as terrible and bad as those mixes.

i actually liked a lot of the techno versions of blue monday 95, and those on the rest of new order, because i liked the mixers, and their styles, and their takes on the songs, which sometimes didn't sound like the originals.

the problem with the tons or current remixes, is they are all very pre-programmed with very little thought or creativity. and half of them are dubs or instrumentals, which aren't that great. maybe it was because the source material songs weren't that good in the first place, sometimes a remix could save them.

i think the extended mixes were more than enough for those songs, without having to make 10 more of each one.

looking back, they might have seemed interesting or had promise at the time, but haven't aged well, haven't listened to them in years now. unlike those from earlier eras.

later -1

Feels like I've been here before http://forums.neworderonline.com/default.aspx?g=posts&m=27773#post27773 I actually picked up the Complete Music double CD and gave up after Restless. Severely Razormade.

negative1 wrote:

liked the mixers, and their style

That's what I objected to. It was a ripoff cos they were using the NO banner to flog their own stuff.

I wonder if the closer Remaster will come with a download code? I don’t think unknown pleasures did last year. Failing that, I wonder if Amazon will have autorip for it. It would be nice to get a digital copy of the remaster.

I think you're right - I don't think the UP reissue came with a download code. Or, at least, it didn't come sealed in the vinyl that I purchased from my local HMV.

I guess it's possible that the New Order store (who I've ordered these records from) might send download emails with vinyl purchases, or maybe a code within the parcel.

It's a bit annoying really, isn't it? If they want us all to buy vinyl again (and the record labels have been pushing it like crazy the last few years), you'd think that they'd make it as enticing as possible, i.e. by including digital copies (preferably lossless). I guess they want us to all buy the vinyl (for the nostalgia, packaging, warmth of sound etc.) but they also want us to buy the digital formats as well (for the superior sound quality and ease of loading onto 'phones etc.).

Why give away something for nothing, when you can charge people twice for the same product? I'm starting to sound cynical. :-)

So what is the consensus on this remaster? It's the 2007 audio for the album and only the singles are newly remastered? Did the B-sides get the remaster treatment or only the A-sides?

These are new masters done by Frank Arkwright.

I've just got an email stating my bundle has been shipped and is arriving today.

Any download codes in the sleeves of the singles?

BazG wrote: I've just got an email stating my bundle has been shipped and is arriving today.

Can I ask where you ordered yours from?

Mine was ordered from the New Order store. I haven't received notification from them yet though.

No download codes. Transmission has the embossed cut out on the rear of the cover.

I ordered mine from the New Order store. Arrived via Yodel.

Got the email from the New Order store around 6.30pm yesterday so you might get one this evening in anticipation of it arriving tomorrow.

I had some other New Order stuff in with mine I had been waiting on for ages.

BazG wrote: No download codes. Transmission has the embossed cut out on the rear of the cover.

I ordered mine from the New Order store. Arrived via Yodel.

Got the email from the New Order store around 6.30pm yesterday so you might get one this evening in anticipation of it arriving tomorrow.

I had some other New Order stuff in with mine I had been waiting on for ages.

Thanks. Fingers crossed for tomorrow, but no worries if not.

Shame there’s no download codes but not really a surprise, I guess, considering they didn’t with the NO 12”s.
It’s a bit annoying and I might end up buying lossless versions. Would’ve been nice to not have to pay twice for them.

Just had the email.

Looking at my order, it looks like I chose ‘standard shipping’. I’m guessing this means mine will be delivered by Royal Mail rather than Yodel etc.

perspexorange wrote: Just had the email.

Looking at my order, it looks like I chose ‘standard shipping’. I’m guessing this means mine will be delivered by Royal Mail rather than Yodel etc.

I spent over £50 and got free shipping so maybe that's why?

Hope yours turns up tomorrow for you.

Cheers! Here’s hoping!

Don't forget, Tim's twitter listening party for Closer this coming Saturday night 18th July 10pm where Hooky will be joining in

https://twitter.com/Tim_Burgess/status/1264529039106113536

Thanks for the reminder, Fotz. It had slipped my mind. I don't think I'll be able to make it tonight, but will hopefully try to listen to it on 'catch up' here:

https://timstwitterlisteningparty.com

From The Guardian Fri 17 Jul 2020 09.50 BST

Joy Division: all of their songs, ranked! https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2020/jul/17/joy-division-all-of-their-songs-ranked

A worthy victor https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RFPLk5mJ1D4

I didn't bother this time around cos there are only so many times you can go through the same crap. And as Mr Orange says, there are far more interesting things out there that need the revamp treatment. Found this on YouTube. It sucks. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RFPLk5mJ1D4

Closer and the 3*12" are available on Qobuz in lossless and vinylless format.

What's the difference between Closer and Closer remastered? 40 years.

Looked at the Timslisteningparty with Hooky last night and listened to Closer 2020 remaster on Spotify.It's a remaster? So what's the difference or even point of remastering again seeing as it was remastered also in 2007 (i think) .Or does remastering technology improve and progress over the years? Well that's a silly question i suppose , of course it must.Still think i prefer my old 80s vinyl of Closer though.Someone on that Guardian Joy Division songs ranked thing the other day said people just claimed to like Joy Division to be cool.Well, hmm, .. i guess i was one of the Blue Monday 1983 kids who got into the band and then later tracked down the band they were before.Yeah i wasn't massive on Closer back then but gradually as you get older it does draw you in and it becomes a great chill out album.No,really.It takes you out of and above the everyday reality of life.Best chill out album ever despite its brutal at times sound.It's chill out music.

Hooky wants to do Movement next on the Listening parties. It's almost as though he's trying to out-do Steve. He mentioned on one of his Instagram chats that he's reading Steve's book. Perhaps there's some competitiveness there about who can tell the story the best. Hooky did also call them New Order (not The Other Mob etc) when he mentined the planned O2 gig. He thought the gig was this November and seemed quite tickled that they were gonna "go for it" this year, until Jack pointed out that it has been moved to 2021.

Closer bores the shit out of me. The seventh time I saw Peter Fook and the Shite I really couldn't be arsed any more. Still, this is a solid cover https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HGrJLOgTp0c

Fotz wrote: So what's the difference or even point of remastering again seeing as it was remastered also in 2007 (i think). Or does remastering technology improve and progress over the years?

It's not so much the technology as the talent. It takes a trained ear and a delicate touch to coax subtleties from the existing master, or make a thin-sounding tape sound full and bring out the low end without changing the feel of the album you know and love. Frank Arkwright has proven himself to have an incredible touch when working on the Joy Division and New Order catalog. Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree has done wonders with the XTC catalog (but he's gone even further, creating new mixes from the multitrack tapes).

perspexorange wrote: Just had the email.

Looking at my order, it looks like I chose ‘standard shipping’. I’m guessing this means mine will be delivered by Royal Mail rather than Yodel etc.

Mine still hasn't arrived. Posted on Thursday by Royal Mail.

I thought today would be the very latest it would arrive. Bit annoying.

50poundnote wrote:

Fotz wrote: So what's the difference or even point of remastering again seeing as it was remastered also in 2007 (i think). Or does remastering technology improve and progress over the years?

It's not so much the technology as the talent. It takes a trained ear and a delicate touch to coax subtleties from the existing master, or make a thin-sounding tape sound full and bring out the low end without changing the feel of the album you know and love. Frank Arkwright has proven himself to have an incredible touch when working on the Joy Division and New Order catalog. Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree has done wonders with the XTC catalog (but he's gone even further, creating new mixes from the multitrack tapes).

Oh absolutely. I agree.

So was Closer remastered for the 2007 release or not? And if so and both it and the 2020 remaster were done by Frank Arkwright i'm just trying to get my head round why he remastered it again .Or was the 2007 reissue not actually a remaster?

Also have read a few places stating 2020 Closer is the first time its been reissued.So what was the 2007 release then?

Fotz wrote: So was Closer remastered for the 2007 release or not?

Yes, done by Jon Davis, but knowing how chaotic the Factory archive was, who knows what he used as a source? I'm sure someone can verify if he had access to the Master created by Hannett and the band in 1980, or if he simply ripped a CD and boosted the levels.

Fotz wrote: Also have read a few places stating 2020 Closer is the first time its been reissued. So what was the 2007 release then?

That's got to be some tricky Marketing double-speak. Was *this* master available digitally somewhere? So this is the first time it's being issued *on vinyl*?

perspexorange wrote:

perspexorange wrote: Just had the email.

Looking at my order, it looks like I chose ‘standard shipping’. I’m guessing this means mine will be delivered by Royal Mail rather than Yodel etc.

Mine still hasn't arrived. Posted on Thursday by Royal Mail.

I thought today would be the very latest it would arrive. Bit annoying.

Unfortunately Royal Mail are still a bit shite at the moment. Still takes about a week for me to receive a first class parcel. I try and avoid where possible. I know we are still in uncertain times but couriers are still delivering as normal for me in most cases. Hope it turns up soon.

BazG wrote:

perspexorange wrote:

perspexorange wrote: Just had the email.

Looking at my order, it looks like I chose ‘standard shipping’. I’m guessing this means mine will be delivered by Royal Mail rather than Yodel etc.

Mine still hasn't arrived. Posted on Thursday by Royal Mail.

I thought today would be the very latest it would arrive. Bit annoying.

Unfortunately Royal Mail are still a bit shite at the moment. Still takes about a week for me to receive a first class parcel. I try and avoid where possible. I know we are still in uncertain times but couriers are still delivering as normal for me in most cases. Hope it turns up soon.

Well, the 'bundle' arrived today (finally!).

To be fair, it's worth the wait. The 'Closer' LP looks fantastic. The clear vinyl looks very nice and I love the fact that the inside of both the inner and outer sleeve is in ruby red. It looks like a really premium product.

I've yet to play them (I don't currently have a turntable!), but I'm very pleased by the aesthetics. :-)

perspexorange wrote:

Well, the 'bundle' arrived today (finally!).

To be fair, it's worth the wait. The 'Closer' LP looks fantastic. The clear vinyl looks very nice and I love the fact that the inside of both the inner and outer sleeve is in ruby red. It looks like a really premium product.

I've yet to play them (I don't currently have a turntable!), but I'm very pleased by the aesthetics. :-)

Oh you must invest in a turntable. For me, it's just a different experience putting a record on to play. A new one especially so.

I'm glad it eventually turned up for you though.

I just read this which gives a bit of an insight too.

https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/inside-the-joy-division-40th-anniversary-campaign-for-closer/080502

Yep. I will definitely get another one at some point (my last one broke).

I used to think there wasn't a lot of point of buying vinyl these days but someone on these boards (I think it was Mr 50poundnote) pointed out how much better it is to have these LPs with full-sized artwork. To be lovingly appreciating the beautiful sleeves, whilst the records play majestically in the background.

And he's completely correct.

I was previously mistaken and rather dismissive of the vinyl comeback. I'm now starting to (re-)appreciate having vinyl again.

Nice little article, by the way. Thanks for posting.

Jcp7 wrote: Closer and the 3*12" are available on Qobuz in lossless and vinylless format.

Thanks, and in North America, too! Hope the NO 12’s from last year follow.