Ian Curtis would have been 70 today (15 July), which is possibly a ridiculous statement given that he didn't even see 24; but even in such a brief moment, his star shone brightly enough to influence just about every British (and more than a fair few American ones) guitar band, directly or indirectly, for the next... well, 46 years. It is a strange (or maybe not) impact that a man noted for his intense, fixed stare while singing, and dark, emotionally isolated lyrics, would be

First, let's set some context. Of course, some of you may have heard of this album, but the chances are, most of you will not know the...