Joy Division's second and final album, my favorite. Here the still-present backdoor desperation of 'Unknown Pleasures' dangerously seeks an eternal peace. The pure beauty of sepulchral synths and cabalistic drumming of 'Heart and Soul' is the perfect gateway to their unnerving music. - 1980 -

This postmortem album (1981) brings together unreleased songs and the "historic" bootleg recording of the band's last gig on May 2, 1980. Rather unremarkable concert, save for exclusive performances of 'Decades' and 'Ceremony'.

Great cover art, sound quality and booklet text by Jon Savage. Alas, rather subjective track selection makes this "Greatest Hits" CD lifeless. - 1995 -

The would-be third album of Joy Division? Of course, not. But that's what New Order came up with after one year of rehearsals, gigs and writing. Ian Curtis' imagery and the ghost of his voice seem to be here, only one minute later to be gone. The Deluxe Edition (2008) includes two Joy Division tracks recorded by New Order. (1981)

A neat soundtrack that provides Joy Division masterpieces and artists that influenced them. Ah, right, there's also The Killers' cover of 'Shadowplay', if you please.

Highly anticipated but quite disappointing biopic about Ian Curtis. 'Control' is not a beautiful, poetically austere film that some people may have expected. No, it's not carved out of marble, there are no pulsar waves that electrify your emotions. What you get is an earthly depiction of Custis' life that is very well recreated. - 2007 -

A biography of Ian Curtis in written form.

The Velvet Underground were at the core of punk and postpunk inspirations. Joy Division actually performed live the Velvet Underground's 'Sister Ray'. It's not on this album, but this is the VU's most accessible record warmed by Nico, and Andy Warhol's supervision. - 1966 -

Kraftwerk were one of the strongest influences on Joy Division and later New Order. This record sounded like nothing else in 1977 and was particularly enjoyed by Joy Division who often played it before going on stage.

Keith Hudson was one of Ian Curtis' favorite dub artists. In fact, New Order recorded Hudson's 'Turn The Heater On' in 1982 as a tribute to Ian. - 1979 -

This fantastic and obscure compilation of one of Joy Division's most loyal disciples, Crispy Ambulance, at times delivers a shocking resemblance.

Had Ian Curtis abandoned Joy Division and imigrated to Belgium, he might have become the leader of this electonic industrial band that brings together the machinery of Kraftwerk and the militarist energy of Joy Division. - 1982 -

'Cars are crashing, lights are flashing in no man's land'

I doubt Ian Curtis read Andrei Platonov, he did although read some of Dostoievsky's books. Platonov's writing style is similar to that of JG Ballard with the same brutal fascination for machines, divine freaks, glistening knobs and death. Add a touch of Communist passionate honesty and Dostoievskian humility.