Search - Wire :: Drill

Their logical conclusion?

W. K. Miller | NC, USA | 09/29/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"After a few records of punk-to-new wave, then a few more of new-wave influenced pop, Wire made this CD of alternate takes on their song "Drill" from a previous album. The band moved from standard, if a tad minimal, guitar-driven punk to electronica, in the course of 8 or so albums. This, along with the WIR album from the same year, The First Letter, is the last stop along this route.I didn't like this CD upon listening to it a few times. It all seemed repetitive and dull to me, not even energizing. I was basically used to material from Wire's first three albums, which is much different, very punky.Now, after listening to it off and on for a few months, I can say that it ages well. A few tracks stand out, notably In Every City? and A Chicago Drill (live). For the casual fan of the group Wire, this CD is not a necessary purchase. But for fans of experimental-leaning electronic dance music, it should be an interesting listen, and of course the Wire completists own it already."

Remove for improvement

loteq | Regensburg | 08/09/2000

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Wire, one of the few art-rock bands of the '70 whose members are still on the forefront of avant-garde music, fall flat with this superfluous 55-minute collection of "Drill" remixes, reworks, and live performances. For those who don't know, "Drill" was a song on 1986's comeback album "The ideal copy". This track's importance lies in its then-innovative proto-techno sound with mechanical repetition, monotonous beats, and a militaristic bent. But I think there's no reason to spend a whole disc's length on half-way developed, tuneless versions of a single song. A few cuts here are made of absolutely dull and aimless noodlings without any hook or melody. "In every city" is a bit more palatable and song-oriented, "Jumping mint" is rather allied to early-'90s techno, and "Did you dugga" has a few catchy synth patterns. Let's forget the rest. If you really want to have a CD full of "Drill", then check out the superior tribute album "V.a. play Drill - Dugga Dugga Dugga". It features reworks from artists like Solex, Chris & Cosey, and LOGM."

If this is not an exercise could it be a.......

filterite | Dublin, Ireland | 02/28/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is just too addictive. As soon as I put this on thinking " Nah just one track is all I need " I end up playing the whole album and it's amazing how much the song has mutated many times over the course of the album. Given what I've heard it would be fun listening to the 30 minute live version but I guess that would have to found on Kazaa or something like that. When I bought this I thought it would be terrible given that most fans of Wire's punk period don't really know what to make of this. I can pretty much say that I shouldn't have worried ( although I still have some doubts on the other synthy stuff they have ). But this is good, really good and as I've said before so addictive"