2007’s Read and Burn 03, the 3rd EP in a series started in 2002 the first two instalments of which had been partly compiled onto the Send album (2003) & later on PF456 Deluxe vinyl/book (2021). Never released on vinyl R&B 03 was also the last non historic release by the original Wire line up. This 2026 version adds 3 more tracks to the original 4 & documents, of one of the more overlooked moments in band’s career. While some of the tracks originated as part of the 2001-2002 sessions that gave forth Send, others have a more storied history. The opening ten minute 23 Years Too Late, with its tour narrative text and motorik rhythm oscillates between spoken word almost ambient sections and guitar grind embracing the band’s love of a deceptive complexity in simplicity. Thriving on a tension and release it also stands as one of the band’s finest achievements of any era in the view of both core fans & the band - a rare point of agreement! The song started life as a highly transformed cover of the 70’s Wire single Dot Dash – performed under the name ‘Dip Flash’ (included here as an extra track) With almost drum and bass rhythms and impenetrable guitar trips the next track, ’No Warning Given’ is also one of those perfect Wire melodies dissected over its rhythmic shuffle. Continuing on their reconstructing of song corpses, ‘Desert Diving’ actually started life as a version of the Chairs Missing track ‘Heartbeat’ as performed live at the Garage, London during Wire’s series of concerts there in May 2000. The original (minimal) version of ‘Our Time’ - which rides on the perfect loping Wire groove with shimmering guitars and deadpan vocals - and the alternate mix of ‘Desert Diving’ are included as an additional tracks alongside the previously mentioned ‘Dip Flash’. Both a chance to revisit the past and still a portal to a future. Read & Burn 03+ is both memory and a future nostalgia and a constant template of what can be done with rock music.
Read & Burn 03 + Out for RSD - 18.04.26
Read here on Rolling Stone’s RSD round up www.rollingstone.com/.../the-jayh...
@swimhq.bsky.social has also written a piece about the unlikely genesis of 23 Years Too on his substack - swimhq.substack.com/p/some-words... see alt for more info