Where many punk bands splutter and run out of creative juice and energy after one great debut album, followed by a disappointing follow-up, Wire are the exception to the rule. Although the band surfaced as the first wave of UK punk washed over the world in 1976, they were always different from their many one-chord thrashing contemporaries. To this day their debut album ‘Pink Flag‘ is one of the most creative and energized albums of the early punk era. Short, sharp songs with weird off-kilter rhythms and strange structures are successfully fused with a brilliant pop sensibility that make ‘Pink Flag‘ a genuine classic of it’s era and a huge influence on everything from the DC hardcore of Rites Of Spring to the spiky brit-pop of Elastica (who robbed the band of everything they created!).
After Pink Flag they went further and further out into the unknown on subsequent albums, becoming more and more progressive but always making sure the pop hooks were still firmly clamped on.
And against all odds, the band are STILL creating good and challenging music. After a series of EP and single releases, ‘Object 47‘ is their first full new album since 2003’s ‘Send‘ and is far more melodic and song based than the fierce and abrasive brilliant middle-aged tantrums of ‘Send‘. Although there’s still an underlying creepiness to their sound and all of the band’s trademark creativity is still intact, songs like ‘One Of Us‘ and ‘Perspex Icon‘ are perfect odd-ball pop that recall some of the band’s later eighties material.
Winding up with the decidedly nasty, almost industrial sounding ‘All Fours’, ‘Object 47’ is the sound of a band still loving what they do and not willing to join the punk nostalgia circuit that so many of their ilk are stuck on.
James Sherry
Everyone who is anyone knows about the Scratch Perverts and their turntable manipulating, party rocking skills. And with this remix, they’re showing that they have the skills on the production boards too as they turn Rusko‘s ridiculously groggy track Cockney Thug into a bouncing electro banger.
‘UK Hip Hop is LIVE‘. This may well be a rather bold statement coming from the little, sky-blue skinned creature’s mouth; but surely someone with a knighthood wouldn’t lie to you? Not a chance. Especially when one of the notorious four horseman of The Colony, Sir Smurf Lil’ is packing solid evidence that the UK Hip Hop scene is not just heating up, but boiling over uncontrollably. All that in just four minutes with his new single, Candlelight.
Sitting outside Cargo chowing down on a freshly barbequed cheese burger is what is known in the business as “the life”. Getting to the venue five hours before The Nextmen took to the stage might have been taking it a bit far, but let’s be honest, you can’t put a price on a slab of cooked meat in a bap. Dun no the crusty bap.
While 
In celebration of Terell Robinson getting bumped up to pro status, Darkstar are offering TEN free decks up for grabs.
Element have combined the strength of carbon fibre with their fibrelight technology to form their new range of Push Construction decks.
Silver Trucks have introduced Chaz Ortiz as their latest rider to join their squad.
Remember way back in 1999 when you began hearing Artful Dodger on every radio station? Remember when you thought that it was just a passing phase that wouldn’t be annoying for much longer? And then remember when you got pissed off when it refused to go away?
Innerpartysystem have announced some headline dates for the UK.