Touching from a Distance

The title of this post comes originally from the song Transmission by Joy Division, lyrics by Ian Curtis. It's also the title of a book about his life by his widow Deborah Curtis. Details of the book can be found here.

Marta and I saw the film of his life in Manchester last year, and have just watched the film again on DVD. Called Control, it's a beautifully made black and white film by Anton Corbijn. It's well worth a look, although it's not easy viewing in some places, and the swearing is not for the faint-hearted!

Joy Division have been one of my favourite bands since I first heard them on the John Peel show in the late 70s. The film tells the story of the troubled life of Ian Curtis, the lead singer and lyricist, who committed suicide at the age of 23. His lyrics are 'filled with imagery of emotional isolation, death, alienation, and urban degeneration' (Wikipedia) and speak very directly to the human condition. Listen to Twenty Four Hours here.

So this is permanence - love's shattered pride
What once was innocence, turned on its side
Grey cloud hangs over me - marks every move
Deep in the memory of what once was love

Oh how I realised how I wanted time
Put into perspective - tried so hard to find
Just for one moment I thought I'd found my way
Destiny unfolded - I watched it slip away

You can find more Joy Division videos here.
JVA