Isolation | |
Artist: | Joy Division |
Album: | Closer |
Released: | 1980 |
Recorded: | 18–30 March 1980 |
Studio: | Britannia Row (London) |
Length: | 2:52 |
Label: | Factory |
Producer: |
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"Isolation" is a song by English rock band Joy Division. It appears on their second and final studio album Closer (1980). The song is based on an electronic drum beat by Stephen Morris, accompanied by a thin, trebly keyboard part by Bernard Sumner. Midway through the song, a rushing drum and hi-hat motif come in, propelling the song toward its dramatic end.
"Isolation" is a song that contains elements of synth-pop and electronic music and lasts for a duration of two minutes and fifty-two seconds.[1] According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Universal Music Publishing Group, it is written in the time signature of common time, with a tempo of 148 beats per minute.[1] "Isolation" is played in the key of C major, while Ian Curtis's vocal range spans one octave, from the low-note of B3 to the high-note of B4.[1] The song has a basic sequence of G–F–G in the verses, changes to B–A–G–F–G at the chorus and follows G–F–G–G–G during the coda as its chord progression.[1]
Bassist Peter Hook said the ending came as the serendipitous result of Martin Hannett's efforts to rescue the original master tape from a botched edit by a junior sound engineer.
AllMusic's Ned Raggett complimented "Isolation," writing, "the song structure and delivery is all Joy Division and as such makes the song an intriguing twist on a style and a highlight of the excellent Closer album."[2]
The song has been covered many times, including versions by: