🔥

I was always under the impression that Winter Songs was 1980 or I absolutely would have "pictured" that. I am *such* a fan of Henry Cow et al.

Yeah. I discovered so much music through Henry Cow and Fred Frith. Was lucky enough to see them in Huddersfield some years ago (I think was a tribute to Lindsey Cooper). I will treasure that moment.

I’m on a massive Wire/solo deep dive at the moment, so “154” recently shot up the rankings from around no. 7. I absolutely adore “154” now. And “Western Culture” has been one of my all time favourite albums for 20+ years now.

Has your Wire deep dive took you to this Colin Newman album? www.youtube.com/watch?v=oi-i... Such a gem. Truly. I could speak volumes of Western Culture too. I wrote a college term paper solely on "On the Raft" a lifetime ago 😁

Apologies, it wasn’t this Newman album I played. It was “Not To”.

Also a lovely record! "Don't Bring Reminders" is a fave of mine throughout his solo career. I love that period where post-Wire stuff was on 4AD!

Just trying Newman’s fourth solo album (“Commercial Suicide”, 1986). Was intrigued by this quote on the Wiki entry for it: "prefigure[s] [...] the deconstructed symphonic pop done so well by Blur." (I love Blur. They got me into Wire in 1994.)

That's amazing! I've seen Blur ONCE (touring for Parklife) and they were effing fantastic. I also have a soft spot for the Leisure record. Funnily enough, and related (!), I first heard of Wire because of, yes, Elastica 😁 but they made me seek out Three Girl Rhumba (and still love that debut!)

Totally envious you saw Blur touring “Parklife”. I love that album so much. I love their first six. My favourite band of the 90s. I loved early Elastica too (‘Stutter’ as best debut single ever?) I think the first time I heard Wire was REM’s version of ‘Strange’ on “Document”.

Funnily enough, I listened to that Newman album for the first time today.

Don’t suppose you still have it? I wrote a proposal for a 33 1/3 book on “WC” in 2008 but it got turned down for lack of commerciality. Fair point! 🤣

I do not, sadly! I'd kind of like to see what my 20 year old self had to say about it too 😆 If I were in a bookstore and there was a 33 1/3 book on Western Culture, first I'd cry because a thing existed 😅, then I'd buy it and read it voraciously. Fair point yes, but it'd make some ppl VERY happy