"Licht und Blindheit" (translating to "Light and Blindness" from German) is an EP by English post-punk band, Joy Division.
It was released on 18th March 1980 by the label Sordide Sentimental as a France-only single. It was limited to 1578 copies and featured the tracks "Atmosphere" and "Dead Souls". Radio presenter, John Peel, played both songs for the very first time on his show on 11th March 1980.
After Ian's shock-suicide on 18th May 1980, Licht und Blindheit got a re-release; available to English listeners. However, it was released as a 12" Single, with "Atmosphere" functioning as the A-Side and "She's Lost Control [12"]" as the B-Side, replacing "Dead Souls". "Dead Souls" would later be found on the album "Still" (1981, FACT 40).
"Atmosphere" was used in both Michael Winterbottom's "24 Hour Party People" (2002, FAC 401) and Anton Corbijn's bio topic "Control" (2007).
In "24 Hour Party People", it was used during Ian Curtis' funeral, which cuts to brief bits of the music video, which was also directed by Anton Corbijn.
In "Control", it was used at the very end of the film, when Ian takes his own life and for the end credits; it was then followed by a 2007 cover of "Shadowplay" by The Killers in the credits of the film.
Trivia:
“Atmosphere” was played at Tony Wilson’s funeral (2007) (ref. "Soundtrack of a generation plays out final farewell to Mr Manchester". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 December 2015. & "Every funeral I go to, they play bloody "Atmosphere"". Fact Mag. Retrieved 31 December 2015.)
Both tracks have been covered by Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails).
Both tracks written in October '79; recorded in November '79; and released in 1980.
Both tracks were played by the band during their Piccadilly Sessions, in 1979.
Peter "Hooky" Hook has credited "Atmosphere" as his favourite Joy Division track. (ref. teamrock.com)
Both tracks used in Anton Corbijn's "Control" (2007); a biopic about Ian’s life. Though ‘Dead Souls’ is performed, and ‘Atmosphere’ is played in its original form.
A music video was provided for "Atmosphere" following Ian's suicide.
"Atmosphere" is one of the 4 "Official Music Videos" Joy Division did. The other 3 are "She's Lost Control" and "Transmission" performed live @ Something Else for BBC2 on 15th September 1979; and "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (1980), the only promotional music video the band ever did.
EP credits:
Published By – Fractured Music
Cover [Couverture] – J-F Jamoul*
Design [Collage] – J-P Turmel*
Liner Notes – Jean-Pierre Turmel
Photography By – Anton Corbijn
Producer – Martin Hannett
Label: Sordide Sentimental – SS 33 002
Format: 7" Vinyl, Limited Edition [45 RPM]
Country: France
Released: 1980
Genre: Rock
Style: New Wave, Post-Punk
Listen to the full EP here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYzhJmEM4P8
Further Reading:
Factory Catalogue Numbers - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factory_Records_discography
Discogs - Lincht und Blindheit - https://www.discogs.com/Joy-Division-Licht-Und-Blindheit/release/193190
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere_(Joy_Division_song)
1. Soghomonian, Talia (5 March 2009). "NME Blogs Release The Bats – It's The 20 Greatest Goth Tracks". NME. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
2. ^ "Dead Souls" on YouTube.
3. ^ "charts.nz – Joy Division – Atmosphere". charts.nz. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
4. ^ "Indie Hits". Archived from the original on 16 October 2007 – via Cherry Red Records.
5. ^ Jump up to:a b "Joy Division | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
6. ^ Jump up to:a b "mvdbase.com – Joy Division – 'Atmosphere'". mvdbase.com. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
7. ^ Raggett, Ned. "Atmosphere – Joy Division | Listen, Appearances, Song Review | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
8. ^ teamrock.com
9. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g Usage in film and television: see "Joy Division - Soundtrack. 'Atmosphere'" at IMDb.
10. ^ "Soundtrack of a generation plays out final farewell to Mr Manchester". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
11. ^ "Every funeral I go to, they play bloody "Atmosphere"". Fact Mag. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
12. ^ Jump up to:a b c "Charts.nz – Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart". Top 40 Singles.
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