When you've exhausted the New Order and OMD back catalogs, and want to get deeper into darker new wave sounds, Wire is a band you should checkout. This is a new repress of the once pricey import album, the last in series of three Wire 1970s albums that are unofficially referred to as the "classic triplet." This is also the most popular of three, probably because it most resembled a new wave album (although it is still fractured with weirdness). The track to listen for is "The 15th." Incredible song. "Blessed State" and "Map Ref" also stand out as two of the cleaner songs, almost achieving a pop-like sheen. But be warned, this album gets weird. Check the goth meets no-wave sounds of "I Should Have Known Better" and the dark hole that is "A Touching Display." This is definitely not for the casual music fan, but rather those who thirst for more. Thirteen tracks in all. Released by Pinkflag on black vinyl housed in a replica sleeve.

• music label: Pinkflag 2018

reviewed by the mgmnt 11/2006