Wire are back! The band have announced details of their forthcoming album, Change Becomes Us via the blaster of a new track, ‘Doubles & Trebles’, which can be heard via the Soundcloud embed below. In typical smart Wire fashion, Change Becomes Us is almost a sidewise nod to the genesis of the album: some of the material is inspired by sketches of songs and ideas first mooted before the first phase of the band came to an end in 1981. While for most this will sound like an entirely new album, the Wire hardcore might like to try and spot elements that can be heard on that year’s Document & Eyewitness live LP, a bold two fingers to both punk reductivism and their major label home. Wire have used these scraps and blueprints, and the input of guitarist Matt Simms, now a full-time writing and recording member of the band, to make an album of new songs that’s a very fresh update of their smart intention to blur the lines between art and pop. Say Wire, "Some of this material had only ever existed as quickly prepared sketches for one-off performance; however, subjected to the rigour of a Wire working process of both touring and studio, it evolved organically into what we think is a fascinating hybrid. Liberated from its historic roots, it simply took off!"
We’re also very pleased to announce that as part of our It’s Been Five Years anniversary celebrations, The Quietus will be working with Wire on a series of events called WIRE:DRILL, taking place at various venues across London in March 2013. More details on this soon, but for now we can announce that the last night of the series will feature Wire playing Change Becomes Us in full at Heaven on Sunday, March 24th. You can buy tickets here. The set will close with the massed guitars of The Pinkflag Orchestra playing the track ‘Pink Flag’ by way of an encore. The album will be released the day after, March 25th, but various versions including some very tasty special editions can be bought via the Wire shop.
