Whilst listening to this album I started to wonder..... does the climate in a city have any bearing on the music its inhabitants produce? And I started to compare Manchester to its closest rivals Liverpool. The distinction is there to see. Even in its darkest moments Liverpool produced bands such as Echo and the Bunnymen. Sure they had a slightly blacker tone than The Beatles but even they were not as dour as Joy Division. Having said that Joy Division became New Order and from there it was only a hop and a step to world cup songs and a John Barnes rap.
Somehow I can't imagine Barcelona or Rio producing music like that found on 'Unknown Pleasures'. But what a great record it is. Yes it's dark, brooding and downright miserable but there is solace in its darkness; atmospheric, elegant and ethereal.
So if this is what endless rain produces, then we should be in for a bumper crop of classic albums!
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