Isolation (Joy Division song)

This article is about the song by Joy Division. For the song of the same title by John Lennon, see Isolation (John Lennon song). For other uses, see Isolation (disambiguation).

"Isolation"
Song by Joy Division from the album Closer
Released	1980
Recorded	March 18–30, 1980 at Britannia Row Studios, London, United Kingdom
Genre	Post-punk
Length	2:52
Label	Factory Records
Writer	Bernard Sumner Peter Hook Stephen Morris Ian Curtis
Producer	Martin Hannett, Joy Division
Closer track listing
"Atrocity Exhibition" (1) "Isolation" (2) "Passover" (3)

"Isolation" is a 1980 song appearing on the post-punk band Joy Division's second album, Closer. The song is based upon an industrial beat by Stephen Morris, accompanied by a high-pitched keyboard line by Bernard Sumner. Midway through the song, a rushing drum and hi-hat motif come in, propelling the song toward its dramatic end in what resembles a compact disc skipping, followed by a sudden electronic crescendo.

The song also appears on the Heart and Soul box set and on Permanent. A live version from the band's last concert appears on Still. The song is also used in the 2007 Joy Division biopic Control.

Covers

• Die Krupps covered the song on 1997 compilation album Metalmorphosis of Die Krupps
• Hard rock band Therapy? covered the song on their 1994 album Troublegum.
• In 1995, a cover by Smashing Pumpkins spin-off band Starchildren appeared on the tribute album A Means to an End: The Music of Joy Division.
• Industrial band Dessau released the Al Jourgensen produced 12" single in late 1988.
• Carissa's Wierd included a cover of the song on their on their 2003 album Scrapbook.

Dessau leader John Elliott had worked with Joy Division producer Martin Hannett in 1982 as a member of Chicago new wave act Stations, and on the 1985 Dessau release Red Languages. Their version also appears on the Dessau LP Exercise In Tension. In 1995 Mausoleum / BMG released a compilation Dessau which also contained "Isolation".