On 18 March 1980, Joy Division released the single "Atmosphere".
It was originally released by the Sordide Sentimental label as a France-only single under the title "Licht und Blindheit" (German for "Light and Blindness"). The b-side is "Dead Souls". Ned Raggett of AllMusic wrote, "Atmosphere" is another one of those prime Joy Division songs, like "Transmission" or "Love Will Tear Us Apart", where Martin Hannett's production becomes so essential to the end result that it couldn't have been heard otherwise", noting that, in regards to Ian Curtis's mental state and subsequent death, "there's a feeling of a requiem here, an awesome musical farewell."
NME voted the song number 1 in its list "The 20 Greatest Goth Tracks".