2000 Great Songs #1271: Autosuggestion

Here's another one of those songs on the list where its rarity plays a significant role in my fascination with the track. Objectively speaking, "Autosuggestion" isn't one of the most memorable Joy Division tunes out there; strictly as a musical matter, I'd probably grab a few more cuts off of Unknown Pleasures or Closer, or even a couple more singles or outtakes from Substance or Still, before landing on this one.

But when I first became obsessed with Joy Division back in college, this cut was somewhat mythical. "Autosuggestion" (and its b-side "From Safety To Where") had been released on some obscure and out-of-print 1979 compilation EP called Earcom 2: Contradiction, along with some tracks by two other bands I'd never heard of (and have still never heard). So I was left to imagine what they might sound like, seemingly forever.

Fortunately, a few years later, 1988's Substance compilation remedied the situation, collecting various singles and rarities (a few of which we've covered before). "Autosuggestion" turned out to be a long, slow dirge, one of their darkest songs (coming from a band with a lot of dark songs), not terribly different from Unknown Pleasures closer "I Remember Nothing." But that churning, throbbing bass riff eventually kicks into double-time, the song pivoting into something a little more rousing (particularly on the live versions), albeit still not exactly cheerful.

Not sure I'd have quite the same affection for it had it been included on Unknown Pleasures, but the few years during which it had taken on some sort of grail-like status, and the joy at finally getting to hear it, continue to give it a personal boost for me.

Live:

Live again:

Peter Hook & The Light, live 2016:

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