In May 1980, post-punk legends Joy Division would play their final ever concert before the untimely death of lead vocalist Ian Curtis and the band’s reformation into New Wave groovers New Order. What many modern students at the University of Birmingham may not know is that this historic final concert actually took place on what is now Chamberlain Tower, then known as Chamberlain Hall.

Sadly, the building itself has been demolished due to safety concerns. Yet, the iconography of such a building is testament to a musical history in Birmingham which is not as publicly spoken about as perhaps it should be. The group even have a collection of live recordings from this concert available as part of the Still compilation. This even includes a recording of ‘ceremony’ with Curtis on vocals, before New Order would make the track their first single under the new moniker. The recordings themselves ae quite haunting, given the context. However, students interested in the university’s history or just fans of Joy Division should definitely take interest. Other than a few issues with the mix on ‘ceremony’s opening the quality is fantastic; really represents everything that made Joy Division such an interesting presence at the end of the 70’s. Taken from the tour following the release of their second and final studio album Closer, the songs resonate with the moody, more experimental atmosphere of the album, although there is a more sporadic dynamic in the live variations which is reminiscent of their debut Unknown Pleasures. Even tracks like ‘Isolation’ feature a harder edge which make them feel more excitable than they did on the studio releases, while still retaining the eerie atmosphere that made the originals so gratifying.

Peter Hook’s basslines sound exceptional in a live setting, most notably on the climax of ‘New Dawn Fades’, wherein the group meld perfectly with one another for a rendition of the track, arguably superior to its studio counterpart. Combined with a more visceral performance from Curtis and a very tight drum performance from Stephen Morris which excellently builds into a more chaotic playing than seen in some other recordings.

While the vaults of Joy Division have been raided to death at this point with countless deluxe editions and special box sets which borderline pirate the groups minimal legacy, Live at Birmingham University does feel like an exception. It’s a snapshot of what could have been. Of a band at their peak who seem set only for a third masterpiece yet listening bears a tragic knowledge that this is not meant to be. While New Order would go on to create some timeless records in their own right, this essential live EP makes one mourn not only Curtis for all his brilliance, but also what could have been from one of post-punks most influential acts.