Cargo Records

Read + Burn

Regrouping for live performance in 1999, the hugely influential wire have ably demonstrated, via sell-out shows everywhere that their fire still burns.

Read & burn 01' is the first phase of a series of new works and stage appearances planned for this year and on into 2003, marking a fierce return to recording for the band, setting a standard that many of today's new chasers of art-rock's golden fleece will be hard pressed to emulate. The kids will be too busy responding to the demands of their adrenal glands as they bounce their heads off walls in unison with the car crashing dynamism and dogged, unyielding tempos. The six tracks of 'read & burn 01', each hitting the 3 minute mark with deadeye accuracy, ride the line from punk to rock and back again with nerve-jarring immediacy, dressed and stylishly accessorised with state of the art production values. Which means, in short, loud and clear like the sound of shouting inside your own skull. Wire will play headlining shows at all tomorrow's parties in April, Barcelona's sonar 2002 electronic festival in June, an American tour in September, a special event at the barbican in October, and other as-yet-unannounced high-concept shows at the end of the year.