Joy Division “Ideal for Living”

Joy Division “Ideal for Living” recorded in 1977, originally released as a 7″ on Enigma  (Joy Division’s label) in 1978. A 4-track EP of super-early Joy Division just after they changed their name from Warsaw. It’s raw, really lo-fi, snotty punk, especially the tracks “Warsaw” and “Failures” which are messy with sometimes indistinguishable lyrics which simultaneously predate the American hardcore sound, give nods to the protopunk sound of bands like MC5 and The Stooges and mirror the late 70′s British power pop of groups like the Buzzcocks.  “Leaders of Men” leans into post-punk, with art punk glam sensibility: dissonance and whispers of Bowie. “No Love Lost” is my favorite track on the EP with its grooving, droning bass line, competent guitar licks and a hypnotic beat that hints at the band’s future at The Factory and the eventual evolution to New Order after Ian Curtis’ death in 1980.