Wire have been a band since 1976 – when they began, punk rock was hitting its stride, Maggie Thatcher was preparing for her political takeover, and Luke Skywalker was about to hit the big screen for the first time. It’s been a long ol’ journey but, almost 40 years later and 13 albums, Wire are still here and set to release their latest self-titled effort.
There is a distinct new wave sound to this album, you can’t escape it. Those drifting, dreamy vocals, subtle electronic sounds and off-beat guitar riffs really give the game away. Despite this undeniably ‘80s vibe, Wire still sounds fresh and modern, a million miles away from the band’s humble ‘70s beginnings. New wave sound ripples through the whole album, but also becomes mixed in with up-to-date indie in ‘Shifting’ and melodic pop harmonies in ‘Sleep-Walking’, creating a rather peculiar blend.
Wire are definitely unusual, there’s no arguing with that. The other-worldly, dreamlike feel and slow, pulsing beats that envelope the album make for a minimalist, stripped-back sound. However, after just a few tracks in you soon realise that this sound is repeated with every song, just oh-so-slightly tweaked each time. That soon becomes monotonous and, by time we reach ‘In Manchester’ and ‘High’, the album is starting to drag.
Thank God, then, for the album’s latter half. From ‘Joust & Jostle’, the listener is finally treated to a lively, upbeat change of pace that wakes you up from the accidental sleep you may well have fallen into. It retains those mature, new wave vocals but drives them forward with fast guitar riffs – hallelujah! This continues with ‘Swallow’, which gives us some much-needed light and shade; ‘Split Your Ends’, which has a bouncier, more playful tempo; and ‘Octopus’, which is a raw, distorted garage-rock track that balances Wire out. Finishing on the album’s heaviest track, ‘Harpooned’ we get to hear a real rock ‘n’ roll track. It’s gritty, it’s dirty, and it’s the stand-out song on Wire. Saving the best ‘til last, were we?
Wire have done a great job of keeping up with the times instead of letting themselves get stuck in a rut like so many other older bands. But the thing is, modern doesn’t always equate to exciting, and a balance between the two is always something to consider.
