Live review by Des Moines (Sounds 26/10/79)
Press
It is Ian Curtis who symbolises Joy Division, even though one can hardly believe that he tries to. Curtis may project like an ambidextrous barman puging his physical hang-ups, but the 'gothic dance music' he orchestrates is well-understood by those who recognise their New Wave frontiersmen and know how to dance the Joy Division! A theatrical sense of timing, controlled improvisation (allowing for apparently arbritary into-length), intelligent decibel-variation and good ol' fashioned distortion (unintended or otherwise) are the sum total of Joy Division's secret, as evinced on 'Disorder', 'Living In The Ice Age' and 'Shadowplay'
- the latter liberating the LA Woman (not to mention the Heineken) in Curtis. The anguished singer had achieved total physical self- expression by the climax of 'She's Lost Control', and, evidently having lost control, he was helped offstage at the conclusion of a set which, for practical reasons, could not be extended. The Buzzcocks had to pretty hot to follow that, and a lot of people thought they were. DES MOINES
