As usual per New Order and Joy Division's releases, the recording date and location of the music is not disclosed on the original sleeve.

As a result, the songs were misidentified on subsequent releases; for example, the track identified as "Mesh" on the CD version of the Substance compilation is actually "Cries and Whispers".

After a few hours of button stabbing, synth-chattering and drum bashing, I sat down on a rickety chair, rolled a joint and inhaled deeply.

Hannett, who had previously produced Movement and both of Joy Division's studio albums, had a fractious relationship with the group, caused by his unorthodox techniques and the band's (especially Sumner's) desire to co-produce.

Sumner remarked retrospectively that "Martin's last track was 'Everything's Gone Green' – fact he walked out halfway through the mix because Hooky and me asked him to turn the drums up.