Customer Reviews

The Eternal: Variations On Joy Division

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I've owned this for about 2-3 years now and have still yet to find anyone else who knows about it. Though I'm not surprised, as I certainly experienced apprehension in purchasing a classical treatment for Joy Division songs. I for one shudder every time I see a String Tribute to `xyz' CD sitting on a shelf. But this is different, it's not Muzak at all. The Nau Ensemble is a Chamber Orchestra and this by all means is not a cover album. It is very simply, Chamber music interpretations based on Joy Division themes. The vocal group Coro di Bellini provides a truly unique addition by arranging Ian's lyrics into a Gregorian chant style. The combination is unexpectedly pleasant.

I find this to be an interesting and rewarding experience. It took me a couple listens before I realized I should just enjoy what I'm hearing instead of trying to pick out specific JD phrases. Like the JD songs interpreted here, the music is presented at a slow pace. There's a balance between the instruments and voices that works well, where neither takes from the other. This has been a pleasure to listen to and clearly represents musicians who have respect for Joy Divisions music.

The liner notes for The Eternal say, "The album is more of a free fantasy - based on the mood of Joy Division's music. The feeling is one of swimming in a calm beautiful ocean, yet there is the clear realization of a very strong untertow..."

I would recommend to a more serious Joy Division fan and also someone who is familiar with or enjoys Chamber music.

any joy division fan will enjoy this disc; not for the raw, disturbing lyrics flowing from ian, but for the outstanding musical rendering of emotion an outstanding charicature of joy division's music

When Lionel Ritchie released an album called "Can't Slow Down" he knew what he was doing- -any slower and he would have stopped moving altogether. So what to make of an hour-long, single-track, lugubrious orchestral album called "The Eternal" in which the late, great Joy Division is stripped of most lyrics and dynamics (not to mention pacing)? Well, at least The Nau Ensemble has appropriated JD as its own- -most of this is pretty opaque even when an honest-to-gosh melody uh, kicks in. Which is okay I suppose, though the effect comes off, presumably unintentionally given the artwork, more as satire than tribute. Stifle those goth giggles. With music this dolorous, who needs lyrics anyhoo?