154

by Wire

154 cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: September 1979
  • Label: Harvest
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Length: 44:41
  • Community rating: 4.59/5 from 14 ratings

Artists on this release: Colin Newman, B. C. Gilbert, Graham Lewis, Robert Gotobed

Album Notes & Community Reviews

On '154', Wire solidifies its departure from minimalist punk, favoring the rich, experimental textures of post-punk. The album refines the innovations of 'Chairs Missing' by embracing slower tempos, fuller song structures, and a production where producer Mike Thorne's synthesizers and guitar effects are integral. This approach results in a varied collection of songs, from cold, atmospheric soundscapes to skewed but accessible pop, which served as the influential final statement of the band's initial incarnation.

Genres

Descriptors: minimal, experimental, sharp, precise, avant-garde, atmospheric, dissonant, guitars

Tracklist

  1. I Should Have Known Better (03:52)
  2. Two People In a Room (02:10)
  3. The 15th (03:05)
  4. The Other Window (02:07)
  5. Single K.O. (02:23)
  6. A Touching Display (06:55)
  7. On Returning (02:06)
  8. A Mutual Friend (04:28)
  9. Blessed State (03:28)
  10. Once Is Enough (03:23)
  11. Map Ref 41 Degrees N 93 Degrees W (03:40)
  12. Indirect Enquiries (03:36)
  13. 40 Versions (03:28)

Credits

  • Colin Newman - vocals, guitar, backing vocals, distorted bass on "on returning", syndrum on "go ahead", saxophone on "former airline", keyboards on "midnight bahnhof cafe", production on "get down (parts i + ii)"
  • Graham Lewis - bass, vocals on "i should have known better", "a touching display" and "blessed state", backing vocals, percussion on "once is enough", sleeve concept, keyboards on "go ahead", saxophone on "former airline", vocals and production on "let's panic later"
  • B. C. Gilbert - guitar, spoken word on "the other window", sleeve concept, bass on "go ahead", saxophone on "former airline", production on "small electric piece"
  • Robert Gotobed - drums, percussion, production on "song 1"
  • Kate Lukas - alto flute on "single k.o."
  • Tim Souster - electric viola on "a touching display"
  • Hilly Kristal - bass vocals on "a mutual friend"
  • Joan Whiting - cor anglais on "a mutual friend"
  • Mike Thorne - production, synthesizer, piano on "single k.o.", production on "a question of degree" and "former airline"
  • Paul Hardiman - engineer, engineer on "a question of degree" and "former airline"
  • Ken Thomas - assistant engineer, assistant engineer on "a question of degree" and "former airline"
  • Dave Dragon - art direction
  • Brian Harris - typographic design
  • Nick Glennie-Smith - engineer on 154 ep and the sixth demo sessions
  • Daniel Priest - engineer on "go ahead", "our swimmer" and "midnight bahnhof cafe"
  • Steve Parker - engineer on "our swimmer (2nd length)" and "catapult 30"

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