Sophomore studio album from London’s prost-punk progenitors Wire. Chairs Missing was originally recorded in 1978 and featured a slightly less austere sound than the band’s debut, Pink Flag. There’s a slightly more developed structure to the album, provided in part by producer Mike Thorne. Joining the core elements of guitar, bass and drums are keyboards and synthesizers, which add a layer of atmospherics to the proceedings. There’s plenty of variety to dig into as the band’s rapid transformation unfolds over the course of the album. “Outdoor Miner” and “Used To” encapsulate a gentler side of Wire, while “Another Letter” invokes the feeling of having taken one too many Purple Hearts. And then there is “I Am the Fly,” the divisive album preceding single that makes gratuitous use of an MXR flanger. Fifteen tracks in all. Released by Pinkflag on black vinyl housed in a full color sleeve with a printed inner sleeve.

• printed inner sleeve
• music label: Pinkflag 2018

reviewed by ninetwofour 09/2018