Now this is some proper dreariness. It’s been said that the atmosphere of Joy Division gave rise to early goth rock and on “Transmission”, as you’re drawn in by Ian Curtis’ unsettling baritone delivery and a devilish bassline from Peter Hook, you can’t help but feel that this song is nothing if not dark and desolate.
It’s easy to hear why this song is considered a post-punk classic, so memorable for its opening riff and the line “Dance to the radio”. Although the repetition of the line gives it an almost anthemic quality, there’s a more eerie kind of hypnotism to it, joyful words given as a firm command. Personally, I think this is fucking genius, because that’s what the song seems to be about - the power of music (or radio, or the media) to consume your attention and divert it from whatever’s going on around you. You were in for a bit of a treat if you bought this record, because the second side featured the monstrous “Novelty”. In amongst the usual brilliance from the whole band the real star of the show here is Bernard Sumner, with some scorching guitar solos in between the verses. Still, a standout moment is when everyone else quietens down as Curtis ominously asks, “Whatcha gonna do when the novelty wears off?” This is taken to be a direct question about the punk movement of the ‘70s but to us, listening long after, the answer is pretty obvious. Listen to a bit of Joy Division.
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