As already mentioned, some days, if you ask me my all time favourite band, the answer will be Wire.
Their 14th studio album, 38 years after their debut, and they settle for naming it just Wire. Irony, a sign they've run out of ideas, or just Wire doing what you'd least expect?
It's a very laid back affair, mostly short songs (under four minutes, not under one minute as on their debut), mostly quite traditionally structured. There's nothing groundbreaking, but Blogging, Burning Bridges and In Manchester (used for a Marc Riley jingle!) are good songs, easy to listen to and enjoyable. Sleepwalking is a longer song, slower, more brooding, and unmistakably Wire, but Joust & Jostle and Octopus take us back to Wire as a pop group, before the album climax, Harpooned, an eight minute wall of sound where they remind us that there's far more to Wire than nice songs.
I've enjoyed this later period Wire, far more than I'd expected to. It's a welcome addition to the catalogue. it's impressive that they're still doing it after nearly forty years.
4* - Some excellent songs, in Wire's trademark style, both the poppy ones and the darker, louder ones.
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