Wire – Nocturnal Koreans – Album Review by Killian Laher

Wire return a year after their most recent, self-titled album with this brief EP. As usual, Wire avoid self-indulgence in favour of taut, nervous, pacy guitar pop. The title track zips by with a kind of yearning melody, while the low key vocal chant of “march, march” on Internal Exiles is the closest we get to any kind of catchy chorus. Things get a little moody on the slow, solemn Forward Position, one of the stronger tracks here. On the other hand Numbered has a slightly dated feel to it.

It has to be said that the EP doesn’t make a huge impression, it’s not hugely noticeable when you’re listening to it, and is quickly forgotten afterwards. Though it’s only 26 minutes long, if that sounds like a dismissal, it isn’t. They are perfectly listenable songs with strong melodies, but they just don’t quite resonate.

Track List –

1. Nocturnal Koreans
2. Internal Exiles
3. Dead Weight
4, Forward Position
5. Numbered
6. Still
7. Pilgrim Trade
8. Fishes Bones

Internal Exiles: