| 1 | Playing Harp For The Fishes | 3:44 |
| 2 | Short Elevated Period | 2:54 |
| 3 | Diamonds In Cups | 4:09 |
| 4 | Forever & A Day | 4:06 |
| 5 | An Alibi | 3:10 |
| 6 | Sonic Lens | 4:31 |
| 7 | This Time | 4:17 |
| 8 | Brio | 3:37 |
| 9 | Sleep On The Wing | 3:00 |
| 10 | Silver / Lead | 2:40 |
Wire – Silver / Lead (Pinkflag, 2017)
Forty years after their ground-breaking debut, Pink Flag, legendary post-punk pioneers Wire return with their 15th studio album, Silver / Lead. Far from a nostalgia act, this 2017 release finds the quartet—Graham Lewis, Colin Newman, Robert Grey, and Matt Simms—masterfully blending their art-punk roots with sophisticated, modern "art-pop" sensibilities.
Described by critics as an "alchemical" masterpiece, Silver / Lead is recognized for its meticulous composition and infectious melodies. The album strikes a perfect balance between the band's jagged past and a refined, melodic future, drawing favorable comparisons to their classic 154 and Mute-era output. While retaining their signature "edgy and erudite" style, the record offers a perkier, more accessible sound than recent predecessors.
Key Tracks Include:
- "Short Elevated Period": A high-energy, "neck-snapper" that harks back to the sharp, jagged urgency of Chairs Missing.
- "Playing Harp for the Fishes": A dense, intriguing opener exploring themes of mortality with "serpentine subtleties."
- "Diamonds in Cups": An infectious, optimistic track featuring "T-Rex-ian" chugging and classic Wire arpeggios.
- "Sleep on the Wing": A reflective piece accentuated by spacey organ sounds and textural electronica.
- "Silver / Lead": A sparse and haunting title track that provides a "metallic KO" denouement.
Whether you are a long-time member of "Generation B-Side" or a newcomer to their influential sound, Silver / Lead proves that Wire remains at the vanguard of the genre they helped invent.
