Album Review: Peter Hook and The Light featuring Rowetta: 1102/2011

The Light Featuring Rowetta – 1102/2011 EP

Hacienda Records

Joy Division founding member Peter Hook and his current project The Light, visited Toronto back in late September of 2011.  Not long after that memorable evening at The Phoenix Concert Theatre, a package containing The Light Featuring Rowetta – 1102/2011 and Ceremony, A New Order Tribute arrived in my mailbox.

The Light Featuring Rowetta – 1102/2011 is a 10-track EP highlighting four great Joy Division songs.  The repeat, yet vastly unique recordings of “Atmosphere”, “Pictures In My Mind”, “New Dawn Fades” and “Insight” are beautifully mastered and lush.  Rowetta’s jazz-singer style injects new life into these classics (be sure to check out the A Capella versions of “Atmosphere” that end off the disc), and is a grand yet not unwelcome departure from Ian Curtis’ dark and moody vocals.

For the Joy Division completist, The Light Featuring Rowetta – 1102/2011 is a must-have.

Want to read about Peter Hook and The Light’s performance in Toronto?  Please visit Lithium Magazine.  My interview with Peter Hook for Lithium can be found here.