On April 16, 1980, the post-punk world was forever altered with the release of Joy Division's seminal album 'Closer.' Following the band's groundbreaking debut, 'Unknown Pleasures,' this album solidified their place in music history. With haunting tracks like 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' and 'Isolation,' 'Closer' painted a dark yet compelling picture of despair and emotional turbulence. The record was a remarkable commercial success, peaking at number 6 on the UK Albums Chart and gaining a cult following that endures to this day. The original pressing of 'Closer' is a prized possession among vinyl collectors, often sought after for its striking cover art and immersive sound that encapsulates the bleak yet beautiful essence of the band's unique style. Vinyl enthusiasts recognize the limited vinyl releases of the album that have emerged over the years, including the 2015 remastered edition, which has rekindled interest in the band's profound impact on alternative music. Joy Division's music resonated deeply not only within the UK but also around the world, influencing countless artists and movements in the decades that followed. Tragically, the band's frontman, Ian Curtis, passed away just a few days before their U.S. tour was set to begin, adding a haunting layer to the album's legacy. Despite this heart-wrenching loss, 'Closer' remains a testament to Joy Division's genius and emotional depth. The album has inspired a myriad of genres, from goth to indie rock, proving that even in darkness, music can shine brightly. Today, 'Closer' stands as an iconic record, forever etched in the annals of music history, inviting listeners to explore the depths of human emotion through the power of vinyl.
Michael Anthony Keane
GAIA COMMUNICATIONS WORLD NETWORK
"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law."
Fraternal greetings to all.
I am Michael Keane, a member of the Ordo Templi Orientis (OTO) based in Liverpool, England. Since 1978, I have been active as a musician under the name The Royal Family & the Poor. Throughout the past two decades, this project has yielded numerous LPs, singles, and videos, with some releases on Manchester's Factory Records, along with various private releases through our independent label, Gaia Communications World Network.
The Royal Family & the Poor originated in 1977 as a collaboration between myself and a friend, Arthur McDonald, who served as the original vocalist. Our earliest recordings were made using a £15 cassette machine, producing what many might have perceived as mere white noise accompanied by an electrical drone. Arthur recited Situationist texts from his own writings, as well as excerpts from Raoul Vaneigem's "Leaving the 20th Century."
The distinctive sound was crafted by disassembling a radio receiver and connecting it to a small analogue synthesizer and an old stereo gram. By manipulating magnets around the radio receiver, we created an experimental audio landscape. The rehearsal space transformed into our musical and alchemical laboratory, where our music served as a medium to explore consciousness. Music(k) became a way to express the inexpressible, revealing the hidden aspects of the soul and encouraging openness to the new and the magical. It inspired us to engage in creative acts and embrace the notion that "every man and woman is an artist" or "a star."
Our fascination with the interplay between magic(k), art, and sound's capacity to alter consciousness led us to label our work as "musick." Factory Records took notice of our experimental sound after hearing a tape, which led to our contribution to a double LP sampler featuring four of Factory's emerging acts. This recording was quickly captured live one afternoon in Joy Division's first four-track studio.
Following that initial year, other members, including Arthur McDonald, departed the group. However, I felt a profound connection to the musick we had created and the energy that resonated throughout our generation, often described by the media as "punk rock." This motivated me to continue the project in whatever form possible.
In 1982, while engaged in a "Practical Correspondence Course on the Mystical Qabalah with S.O.L.," I unexpectedly received a visit from a friend who was photographing a William Burroughs event that evening. He invited me to join him. The encounter felt surreal, akin to something out of "Interzone," and Burroughs treated me as if we were old acquaintances. The experience revived a sense of love and connection I hadn't felt since childhood, a feeling that has continued to inspire me.
In 1985, The Royal Family & the Poor decided to part ways with Factory Records to establish our own label, Gaia Communications World Network. We promptly released one LP and a 12" single, in addition to recording a collection of new material. Unfortunately, the collapse of our distribution company, Red Rhino, led to the abrupt demise of our label.
During this time, as the lineup of the band evolved, The Royal Family & the Poor functioned as a collective, performing numerous shows across Europe and the UK. We produced five C90 cassette releases, contributed to various compilation LPs, and engaged in ritual workshops and lectures.
In 1995, we procured a PC and phone line, allowing us to revitalize our long-standing project, Gaia Communications World Network (distinct from other similarly named groups). Our first new release, a decade in the making, is titled "Songs For The Children Of Baphomet: A Musickal Celebration on the Theme of Magick and A Tribute to The Life & Works Of Aleister Crowley (1875-1947)." This CD LP features over an hour of our finest work to date, accompanied by a free 28-page full-color booklet, with each copy individually numbered from 1 to 2000.
We extend our gratitude to the OTO for granting us copyright permission to use Aleister Crowley material in the tribute LP, as well as to Frater A.M.T. and Frater H.B. for their unwavering support and encouragement.
For inquiries or further information regarding Gaia Communications and The Royal Family & the Poor, please reach out via email or visit our website.
"Love is the law, love under will."
Brother Michael A. Keane / Fra: A.N.L. Liverpool, near England.
