Joy Division Piece By Piece: Writing about Joy Division 1977- 2007
by Paul Morley

There’s still this appeal that we’ve kept through our lives

Immortalised on celluloid, in all manner of print, on CD and within Manchester’s murky mythology, Joy Division’s re-emergence has seen them finally gain a measure of greatness within the mainstream. This is celebrated in Morley’s collection of articles, all streamed to place the band as the centrepiece of Manchester culture.

Some may disagree, but few can argue with Morley’s claim that Joy Division’s astonishing two-album career would continue to roll out and inspire people. So, one senses, should this book, as the author attaches himself to the central story despite, as he freely admits, dropping Manchester in favour of the capital at the precise moment Joy Division stumbled onto something special.

Their short history is reassembled, dissected, mulled over, prodded about. In the hands of a lesser writer it could have gone nowhere, but Morley’s cute interventions constantly pull the book towards 2008. It’s messy, maddening, openly pretentious, often absurd and almost always brilliant. It’s everything that good rock writing should be: unfolding, examining and always straining to catch a glimpse of the magic. Though not always factually perfect, all is forgivable thanks to the sheer brilliance of the pen. A brattish, precocious, offspring of a book that one just has to love… despite oneself!

4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars

ISBN 0859654044

Reviewed by Mick Middles
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