Silver/Lead is the 15th studio album from musical pioneers Wire.

Playing Harp For The Fishes        3:44    

Short Elevated Period        2:54    

Diamonds In Cups        4:09    

Forever & A Day        4:07    

An Alibi        3:10    

Sonic Lens        4:31    

This Time        4:17    

Brio        3:37    

Sleep On The Wing        3:00    

Silver/ Lead        2:40    

Today pinkflag is launching Silver / Lead with lead track 'Short Elevated Period'. Streaming on NPR and of course our soundcloud. The album is also available for pre-order from today. This time we are releasing it in 3 physical formats, CD, Vinyl and Special Edition - a hard backed 80 page case bound book, with text by Graham Duff, extended credits, lyrics, brand new interviews and exclusive colour photographs as well as the CD itself. This format will be only produced in limited quantities but unlike The Change Becomes Us Special Edition with which it shares a format, it will be also available in selected independent record shops.

Here's the album press release.

Silver/Lead is the 15th studio album from musical pioneers Wire. It arrives on the 40th anniversary of their debut performance. Yet it’s about as far from nostalgia as you could get. This is the sound of a uniquely addictive 21st century psychedelic post-punk. 

Colin Newman and Matt Simms’ guitar work is alternately jagged and luminous, while bassist Graham Lewis’s ear-catching lyrics are vivid yet oblique. Meanwhile, drummer Robert Grey provides a virtual masterclass in percussive minimalism. But it’s how the various instruments mesh together that really counts. And Newman’s production creates a sonic space in which even the smallest gesture is accorded some recognition. 

Highlights include the optimistic dazzle of ‘Diamonds In Cups’, with its almost T. Rex-style buzz and chug, and the moody swing of ‘This Time’. Elsewhere on the musical spectrum, there’s the menacing widescreen grandeur of ‘Playing Harp for the Fishes’ and breakneck-paced guitar pop of ‘Short Elevated Period’.

Wire are one of the world’s most ground-breaking bands, their influence acknowledged by bands as diverse as Blur, Sonic Youth, R.E.M. and Savages. But they have never been interested in exploiting past glories. For Wire, there is only ever one possible direction: forwards. So it’s perhaps not surprising that over recent years, they’ve played strings of sold-out shows, achieved career-best record sales, and been cited as a strong influence by yet another generation of bands.  

Wire’s last three albums garnered nothing but rave reviews. From 2013’s strangely beautiful Change Becomes Us (“It’s fantastic.” – Pitchfork) to the crackling motorik of 2015’s Wire (“It’s all really well turned, potent and crisp.” – The Guardian), and last year’s punchy mini-album Nocturnal Koreans (“It's a cracker and sounds defiantly modern.” – The Quietus). Consequently, although it may be being released on the band’s 40th anniversary, Silver/Lead is an album which has nothing to do with the past and everything to do with the future.  

2017

Although it hasn't been the best kept secret, it may surprise some that Wire will release their 3rd album in as many years in 2017. In fact the last year Wire released a 3rd album in a 3rd successive year was 1979. Clearly something is going on! Now we can start to reveal that story. The release date of 31st March 2017 is neither arbitrary nor accidental. It is in fact the closest available release day to an important anniversary for Wire. It is not the anniversary of the first time a band called Wire existed or the anniversary of the release of Pink Flag, but it’s the anniversary of the 1st gig by Wire as a 4 piece – originally having been a 5 piece who mainly played material by it’s then leader George Gill. April Fool’s day 1977 was the first time a band that anyone familiar with Wire, even today, would recognise took to the stage. 

The event was even documented - HERE

So what does it mean to Wire to be 40 years old? To be honest, something & nothing at the same time. We could have even chosen to ignore it but in a way it’s more honest to embrace it, even if it’s already being tagged as “40 years of not looking back”. We will of course celebrate it by a new album and several DRILL : FESTIVALS (more news about those in a couple weeks) and there will also be touring. You will be well advised to keep an eye on your inbox, pinkflag.com and Wire’s Facebook & twitter.