Joy Division

Closer

First released1980

Closer, Joy Division's second and final studio album, was recorded at Factory Records' own studio in Manchester and at Pennine Sound Studios in Oldham between April and June 1980. The album was produced by Martin Hannett, who employed innovative recording techniques including distinctive drum processing, extensive use of synthesizers, and unconventional microphone placement to create the album's signature atmospheric sound. Recording took place amid the band's growing tensions and the tragic suicide of lead singer Ian Curtis on May 18, 1980, which occurred during the production period. Hannett's production choices, particularly the heavily treated and layered arrangement of tracks like "Isolation" and "The Eternal," represented a significant departure from their debut Unknown Pleasures and showcased a more experimental electronic direction. The album was released on July 15, 1980, just two months after Curtis's death, becoming the final Joy Division release before the remaining members regrouped as New Order.