Songs from Beneath the Spaghetti Tree Vol. 111 (1980s special)

 

This Spaghetti Tree volume is a little different, consisting entirely of songs released in the 1980s, a decade which my old pal moonglum insists is the worst ever for music. Yes, there were plenty of awful artists/songs in the 1980s, just like any other decade, so I compiled this "80s special" as my argument against his claim. I think he was just listening to the wrong music...!
The cover art was inspired by the lovely Sarah, joing up 2 photos taken by her, which I've manipulated somewhat. Hope you all enjoy this latest volume!!


Disc 1:
  1. Opal - Supernova (4:17)
  2. Bird Nest Roys - Ain't Mutatin' (2:42)
  3. Zag and The Coloured Beads - Truckhouse (2:33)
  4. Modern Art - Light Comes Down (3:17)
  5. Daevid Allen - Afraid (2:00)
  6. Bobb Trimble - When the Raven Calls (6:35)
  7. Moral - Juice (3:18)
  8. Au Pairs - Love Song (2:48)
  9. Big Black - Kerosene (6:01)
10. Sardine v - Minutes (5:06)
11. Mekons - Dora (4:38)
12. Plasticland - No Shine for the Shoes (2:27)
13. The Mommyheads - Cactus Farm (3:28)
14. The Chills - The Great Escape (2:28)
15. Viv Stanshall - Terry Keeps His Clips On (3:37)
16. Violeta de Outono - Declínio de Maio (4:59)
17. Dark Day - The Metal Benders (2:46)
18. The Ex - Kachun-K Pschûh (3:40)
19. Guided by Voices - The Qualifying Remainder (2:55)
20. Mick Wills - She Looked Down (9:40)

Disc 2:
  1. Marden Hill - Masque (2:51)
  2. Crispy Ambulance - We Move Through the Plateau Phase (5:41)
  3. Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band - Sue Egypt (2:53)
  4. The Green Pajamas - I Feel That Way All the Time (4:11)
  5. Throwing Muses - Hate My Way (4:03)
  6. Bill Laswell - Lowlands (4:18)
  7. Colin Newman - Alone (3:57)
  8. The Kiwi Animal - Blue Morning (2:16)
  9. Solid Space - Tenth Planet (2:52)
10. Camberwell Now - Working Nights (7:41)
11. A.R. Kane - Suicide Kiss (3:35)
12. Spacebox - Session Groove (3:49)
13. This Kind of Punishment - After the Fact (4:44)
14. The Durutti Column - People's Pleasure Park (4:55)
15. Edu Passeto & Gui Tavares - Menino de Pindorama (3:55)
16. Family Fodder - Cold Wars (3:36)
17. The Bats - North by North (4:04)
18. Pauk - Pozlilo od Strasti (2:51)
19. Tangle Edge - The Approaching Triptykhon Sunset (3:42)
20. Robyn Hitchcock and The Egyptians - Goodnight I Say (3:10)

 Download FLAC
 Download mp3

Songs from Beneath the Spaghetti Tree Vol. 109

  1. Ali & Charif Megarbane - Pekojan Funk (3:24)
  2. Nick Nicely - Hilly Fields (1892) (3:29)
  3. Sean Wolcott - The Hours That Bear Their Mark (3:04)
  4. Dug Dug's - Tímido (2:22)
  5. Barry Ryan - What's That Sleeping in My Bed? (2:17)
  6. Stump - Bone (3:46)
  7. Luster - All Is Dark Inside (4:30)
  8. The Heavenly Bodes - Faux Pillars (5:29)
  9. Ishaaq Aarkistra - Grunderna (4:58)
10. Jean-Jacques Debout - Le Soleil Sur La Peau (2:18)
11. Seely - Planes Circle Do (7:30)
12. Plaid & Benet Walsh - Eyen (4:19)
13. White Canyon & The 5th Dimension - Alumia (6:42)
14. Huw Marc Bennett - Y Fedwen (The Birch) (3:46)
15. Amon Düül II - Fly United (3:30)
16. Dan Lacksman - Sunshine Is Gone (2:48)
17. John Cameron - Swamp Fever (2:07)
18. Heaven & Earth - A Light Is Shining (2:36)
19. The Comsat Angels - Now I Know (3:56)
20. The Bevis Frond - Horrorful Heights (3:17)
21. Heavy Meddo - Hairpiece Horseman (3:07)

 Download FLAC
 Download mp3
 

Pell Mell - Endless Open Motion

 

Bio:
Pell Mell were an American instrumental group whose music could be seen on some levels as a forerunner of post-rock, sharing its eclecticism and fusion of acoustics and electronics, but shying away from its more self-conscious avant-gardisms and free-form qualities. Formed in the early 1980s in Portland, Oregon, they developed a distinctive sound built around interlocking guitars, steady rhythms, and an absence of vocals that allowed their compositions to unfold like scenes from an unwritten film. Their work often carried a sense of motion and landscape, suggesting open roads, shifting light, and the passage of time. Not wanting to be pigeonholed as mere revivalists, they switched up their attack with touches of funk, punk, Krautrock, dub, and vintage ambient, among other sources, which resulted in an atmospheric, effects-laden sound that was certainly aided by its creators' production prowess. Across releases culminating in albums like "Interstate", Pell Mell refined a style that was both understated and emotionally resonant, helping to lay groundwork for later instrumental and post-rock acts. Though never widely commercial, they earned a devoted following for their ability to convey atmosphere without words, creating music that feels at once intimate and expansive, perfectly suited to long journeys, both literal and imagined.


I first had the idea of compiling a Pell Mell anthology several years back, finally getting the kick up the backside to go for it thanks to a compilation of instrumentals, "Syncopated Musings From The Nineties", posted on the wonderful  jonderblog blog a few weeks ago featuring 3 tracks by the band. You can find a link to them in my blog list. Much more prolific than me, you'll find loads of highly original and diverse compilations to enjoy. https://jonderblog.blogspot.com/

This isn't an all all-encompassing anthology, there's a few compilation tracks/b-sides which I don't possess, but this does include tracks from all their studio albums and their debut EP from 1981. The majority of tracks included here come from their final 3 album releases, which I think feature their strongest work. As for my favourite Pell Mell album, I'd probably go for their one major label release, "Interstate" from 1995. As usual, origin of each track & year of release is tagged in the music files and noted in the download folder. I hope you all enjoy this latest anthology. Cheers!

 

  1. Spy vs Spy (2:51)
  2. Estacada (5:01)
  3. Ether (4:33)
  4. Flood (6:57)
  5. On Approach (2:56)
  6. Blacktop (3:20)
  7. Conversation (4:15)
  8. All This and More (3:05)
  9. Sky Lobby (3:50)
10. Swoon (1:54)
11. Par Avion (4:10)
12. The Devil Bush (2:15)
13. Vegetable Kingdom (6:26)
14. Upstairs (3:25)
15. Field of Poppies (2:35)
16. Nothing Lies Still Long (4:06)
17. American Eagle (2:20)
18. Red Rhythm (6:02)
19. Cinecitta (5:22)
20. Smoke (4:04)

 Download FLAC
 Download mp3

  

Best of 2025 mix - Volume 2

 

  1. Citrus Citrus - Ivory Crumbs (2:51)
  2. Gloria - Eleusis (4:26)
  3. Automatic - Don't Wanna Dance (4:26)
  4. Soft Hearted Scientists - Hello Hello (5:12)
  5. The Len Price 3 - Dead Man's Island (2:06)
  6. The Miracle Seeds - What You Know (3:56)
  7. Sons of Zöku - Energia (3:50)
  8. Cate Le Bon - About Time (3:29)
  9. Ty Segall - Buildings (4:11)
10. Lost Crowns - She Didn't Want (5:56)
11. Mekons - Before the Ice Age (3:24)
12. Lake Ruth - The Next Level (3:04)
13. Lorelle Meets the Obsolete - Palabra (5:59)
14. Ashinoa - Monstera (4:34)
15. Midlake - Lion's Den (3:41)
16. Gwenno - Y Gath (4:04)
17. Jumble Hole Clough - It's Time to Go Home (2:40)
18. The Bats - A Crutch a Post (2:55)
19. Midnight Rodeo - Cleanshirt (3:07)
20. Eggy - Are You Not Entertained? (5:01)

 Download FLAC
 Download mp3

Best of 2025 mix - Volume 1

 

I won't say too much about how 2025 was for me on a personal level, except to say I've had better years... On the positive side, it's been yet another excellent year for new music. As I mentioned previously, I still have quite a few releases to catch up on, once I've done that volume 2 should hopefully follow within the next 2 weeks. This first volume consists mostly of albums released the first 9 months of the year, plus a few which caught my attention quite recently. 

I wish all of you a happy new year and hope you enjoy this first offering, a bit later than usual. Cheers!

  1. Mandrake Handshake - Hypersonic Super-Asterid (8:33)

  2. MIEN - Tungsten (4:00)

  3. Derya Yildirim & Grup Simsek - Istanbul’un Kuslari (3:10)

  4. Gros Coeur - Montréal (5:25)

  5. The John Denver Airport Conspiracy - Portman Road (2:37)

  6. Titanic - Alzando el Trofeo (3:26)

  7. The Budos Band - Overlander (2:50)

  8. Population II - Rédemption Naturelle (3:13)

  9. House of All - Oh What Is Love Made For (2:40)

10. The Gentle Good - Dark Skies (4:05)

11. Floral Image - The Score (3:44)

12. La Nouvelle Musique - Still Life (4:31)

13. Monde UFO - No Sight Screening (2:44)

14. Stereolab - Transmuted Matter (4:13)

15. Dinastía Moon - Morita (3:28)

16. Little Barrie & Malcolm Catto - Count of Four (6:04)

17. Wombo - Spyhopping (2:24)

18. The Ex - Monday Song (5:40)

19. REFAIM - Or Va Zel (5:47)

 Download FLAC

 Download mp3

Inside Man Erg's Monumental No. 9 Mix

 

Another year ends, quite a traumatic one for me, but I won't dwell on that, I need to look forward... 
No matter what life throws at us, there's always good music to help us through the bad times. So, to end this year, as promised, here are a few of Man Erg's favourite songs/artists from 2025. There's certainly plenty of good music on this comp, with quite a few artists unfamiliar to me which I will definitely be seeking out. 
I need to catch up on some of the more recent releases the past 3 or so months, so my "best of" 2025 mix won't appear for at least a couple of weeks. I hope you enjoy Man Erg's favourites from the past year, as much as I enjoyed compiling them, and I wish all of you the most wonderful new year. Cheers!

 Part 1
  1. Insecure Men - Cleaning Bricks (3:03)
  2. Harry the Nightgown - Two Sides (2:52)
  3. Clémentine March - Stories (2:16)
  4. Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan - All Mod Cons (3:35)
  5. The Moles - Alvin Hollis (2:26)
  6. Dimorphodons - I Want You to Know (6:08)
  7. Dead Famous People - Gladwrap (3:38)
  8. The Miracle Seeds - A Ripple in Time (5:31)
  9. Piers Faccini & Ballaké Sissoko - Special Rider Blues (5:08)
10. Lake Ruth - Potalaka Listening Station (3:35)
11. Man/Woman/Chainsaw - Only Girl (3:34)
12. These New Puritans - A Season in Hell (5:00)
13. Rural Tapes - Flower Lab (6:36)
14. Hannah Cohen - Dusty (4:03)
15. SOYUZ - Krok (3:04)
16. jasmine.4.t - Did U No (5:03)
17. pôt-pot - I AM! (5:58)

Part 2
  1. Gwenno - St Ives New School (5:43)
  2. Litronix - Electric Panoramic (4:43)
  3. Melody's Echo Chamber - Burning Man (2:27)
  4. Ringlets - Hit the Frog (4:39)
  5. Preen - English Sun (3:44)
  6. Cate Le Bon - Mothers of Riches (4:33)
  7. SHOLTO - Smooth Sailing ft. Phoebe Coco (3:04)
  8. Midlake - Make Haste (4:46)
  9. Smote - Snodgerss (3:49)
10. Dyr Faser - Human Interest (3:18)
11. Stereolab - Esemplastic Creeping Eruption (6:02)
12. The Bats - Corner Coming Up (4:08)
13. Yzoula & Louis Fontaine - La Promenade De La Jeune Sorcière (3:23)
14. Midnight Rodeo - Buggin' Out (4:56)
15. Don Leisure - Bra^n Swi^t (3:59)
16. House of All - The Good Englishman (4:47)
17. Atom Juice - Sexi Frogs (6:57)

 Download FLAC
 Download mp3

 

Songs from Beneath the Spaghetti Tree Vol. 106

 

Well, quite a lot has been happening since my last post here. I had to go to hospital a couple of weeks back for quite a major operation, after complications set in due to being prescribed incorrect drugs for my medical problem. Thankfully the operation was a success and I'm now off work for a few weeks to recover and get back to full fitness. Some of the songs picked for this latest volume reflect what I've been going through lately. Some quite obvious, others not so! The mix might start off a bit "dark" but it soon brightens up. I hope you all enjoy this latest mix and thanks for all the support. Cheers!

  1. Telstar Ponies - Her Name (4:19)
  2. The Modern Lovers - Hospital (5:29)
  3. Sababa 5 - Nadir (3:46)
  4. Automatic - mq9 (3:39)
  5. Ramases - Hello Mister (2:56)
  6. Titanic - Gallina degollada (3:54)
  7. 18th Dye - Whole Wide World (3:10)
  8. The Wisdom of Harry - Great Inventor (3:38)
  9. Jumble Hole Clough - 40 Thieves (3:15)
10. La Nouvelle Musique - Time Ticks Slowly (3:04)
11. pôt-pot - Sextape (4:30)
12. Ty Segall - Alive (2:48)
13. Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith - The World Just Got a Little More Big (3:25)
14. Ernst Schultz - XY (5:16)
15. REFAIM - Heut (5:37)
16. SOYUZ - Offscreen (3:28)
17. Oruã - Deus-Dará (4:15)
18. Some Velvet Sidewalk - Valley of the Clock (4:54)
19. Stereoscope Jerk Explosion - Club Vaudou (4:02)
20. Midnight Rodeo - Strange Eyes (4:10)

 Download FLAC
 Download mp3

Songs from Beneath the Spaghetti Tree Vol. 105

 

For this volume, I've asked Man Erg to contribute once more, much like we did with Volume 101. This time, he picked the first track, I picked the second, then back to him for the third, and so on. Just like before, the tracklist follows the exact order we chose them in. I think it's come together quite nicely, but I’ll let you be the judge of that! For those wondering who is the ominous figure in the cover art, I believe it is Julian McCulloch. Or is it Ian Cope? Hmmm....
I hope you enjoy this latest collaboration, there will be more in the future. Big thanks as always to everyone who's taken the time to comment on my mixes. Cheers!


  1. Echo & The Bunnymen - Simple Stuff (2:32)
  2. The Sick Man of Europe - Transactional (4:10)
  3. Snakefinger - I Come from an Island (3:18)
  4. Robert Wyatt - A Sunday in Madrid (4:41)
  5. Clémentine March - Elixir (5:22)
  6. Appliance - Personal Stereo (4:14)
  7. Lake Ruth - To Erika (3:23)
  8. Hand - Shifting Lead (2:47)
  9. Dave Bixby - Morning Sun (3:36)
10. Aberdeen - Drive (4:02)
11. White Noise - My Game of Loving (4:07)
12. Ferkat Al Ard - Entazerni (4:15)
13. Arthur Verocai - Caboclo (2:46)
14. Rujen - Strawberry Moon (3:55)
15. Colosseum - The Kettle (4:23)
16. Can - Turtles Have Short Legs (3:22)
17. The Boo Radleys - Tortoiseshell (3:57)
18. Møtrik - Red Eye (6:41)
19. Aircooled - Transmission Transmission (4:59)
20. The Teardrop Explodes - Second Head (3:10)

 Download FLAC
 Download mp3

Songs from Beneath the Spaghetti Tree Vol. 103

 

  1. Doug Tuttle - Draw Blood (3:38)
  2. Aardvark - Very Nice of You to Call (3:35)
  3. Stereolab - Vermona F Transistor (4:33)
  4. The Rowan Amber Mill - Summer Solstice (2:44)
  5. Sound Studio Top Set - Big Fingers (3:23)
  6. Banchee - Evolmia (3:16)
  7. Oats - Conditions for Pursuit (2:55)
  8. Céline Dessberg - Selenge (3:18)
  9. Honeybus - Fresher Than the Sweetness in Water (3:05)
10. Young Marble Giants - N.I.T.A. (3:28)
11. Mr Liquorice - Helicopter Pilot (3:47)
12. Bread, Love and Dreams - Masquerade (4:50)
13. Sister Wives - YnCanu (4:01)
14. Calibro 35 - The Twang (4:13)
15. Hush the Many (Heed the Few) - Revolve (3:44)
16. White Magic for Lovers - The Boy from the Bookshop (3:05)
17. Fickle Pickle - Saturday (3:02)
18. Floral Image - Tiergarten (3:34)
19. The Essex Green - Bald (5:38)
20. Little Barrie & Malcolm Catto - Sick 8 (4:17)
21. Future Pilot AKA - The Art of Good Breathing (5:09)

 Download FLAC
 Download mp3

Slovenly - The Shape of Unease

 

Short bio:
Emerging from the vibrant Los Angeles underground scene of the early 1980s, Slovenly quickly aligned themselves with SST Records, joining the ranks of genre-defying acts like Minutemen and Saccharine Trust. While rooted in post-punk, Slovenly’s sound was distinct—jagged guitar lines, off-kilter rhythms, and abstract lyrical explorations defined their music, eschewing hardcore’s aggression in favour of cerebral tension and melodic dissonance. Their lineup, solidified around Tom Watson (guitar), Steve Anderson (vocals), and Rob Holzman (drums), evolved through six albums between 1984 and 1992, carving a subtle but enduring place in the SST catalogue.

Slovenly never courted wide attention, and that was part of their appeal—their music felt like a quiet rebellion against both punk orthodoxy and mainstream accessibility. Over time, their work has earned a cult appreciation for its restless invention, poetic lyricism, and emotional restraint. Their final album, Highway to Hanno's, remains a fitting capstone: mature, moody, and uncompromisingly them.


As I mentioned in the "Slivers From the Spine" SST compilation, here's the Slovenly anthology I'd been thinking about. I also stated that they're rather an acquired taste. If you’re after straightforward verse/chorus/verse structures, this band probably isn’t for you! Steve Anderson's vocals can be a stumbling block for some too; he's often compared to Ian Curtis, another singer who tends to divide opinion. Sure there's similarities but I think Anderson shows more variety, even in his off-key moments!

Compiling these tracks, it was tough deciding what to include, and what to leave out. I'm sure there'll be some comments regarding about what's missing, I can only apologise but after a lot of deliberation this is how it panned out. My favourite Slovenly album, "Riposte", features most heavily here, 6 tracks in total, but I have included tracks from all of their album/single/EP releases. 

The majority of these tracks are ripped from vinyl, some by me (tracks from the albums "Thinking of Empire" & "Riposte"),  the other excellent vinyl rips I found from various sources. Big thanks to those who took the time to rip these hard to find records. Tracks from the last 2 album releases are ripped from CD. As ever, origin of each track & year of release is tagged in the music files and noted in the download folder. Hope you enjoy this one. Cheers!


  1. Dialogue (5:04)
  2. Movement (3:01)
  3. Temp. Struct. (2:34)
  4. Old/New (3:20)
  5. What's It Called (3:02)
  6. Instability (3:33)
  7. Seeking Equilibrium (3:58)
  8. Now (2:23)
  9. Emma (2:09)
10. Enormous Critics (2:32)
11. Today or Ck (2:59)
12. On the Beach (3:41)
13. Running for Public Office (3:56)
14. The Way Untruths Are (4:13)
15. Plug (2:41)
16. Where Are My Friends (4:55)
17. To Tito With Love (2:49)
18. Distended (2:56)
19. On the Surface (3:00)
20. A Year With No Head (2:59)
21. Even So (3:35)
22. No Shore (3:02)
23. Cartwheels of Glory (2:57)
24. Prejudice (2:21)
25. Sleep From the Eye (2:10)

 Download FLAC
 Download mp3 

Slivers From the Spine (SST Records)

 

Hello again! This latest compilation is in celebration of SST Records, one of my favourite record labels from the 1980s. It's by no means a definitive overview; rather, it features tracks from SST releases I personally bought back in the day. I thought about including something from Opal’s "Happy Nightmare Baby", but the version I picked up was released on Rough Trade in the UK, so it didn’t feel quite right for this comp. Also no Henry Rollins era Black Flag are here, the only release I bought of them was "The First Four Years", which covers their early stuff before Rollins joined.

Some albums I still cherish, notably the albums released on SST by Minutemen, Hüsker Dü, Volcano Suns, Screaming Trees and Slovenly. I really should do a Slovenly anthology one day, they're a bit of an acquired taste but I've loved every album they released. Maybe a Volcano Suns collection too, that'd be quite a noisy affair! Another possibility is Pell Mell, in fact the final SST album I bought was their 1991 release "Flow". Like most of my comps, this one’s a mix of some better-known bands and a few more obscure ones that you might not have heard of before.

Jusf for the fun of it, I posted this mix to ChatGPT and asked them to write up a description of the contents. Here is the result!
"From the vaults of America's most relentlessly uncompromising independent label comes a collection so raw, so real, and so recklessly non-commercial… we’re amazed it exists at all.

Presenting a once-in-a-lifetime sonic journey through the hallowed halls of SST Records, where melody feared to tread and song structure was merely a suggestion. This essential anthology assembles the all-stars of underground iconoclasm: the blinding fury of Black Flag, the melodic mayhem of Hüsker Dü, the sunbaked surrealism of Meat Puppets, the econo-genius of Minutemen, and the art-damaged charm of Slovenly—bands so ahead of their time, they’re still broke.

This collection crackles with the unfiltered electricity of an era when indie meant indigent, and “tour support” was just sleeping on a stranger’s floor.

Are you ready for 80 minutes of music that changed everything, and sold almost nothing?
Then step into the van, crank the volume, and embrace the noise.

SST: Sounds So Tremendous. Or Something."

Not bad, I must say! As usual origin of each track & year of release is tagged in the music files and noted in the download folder. Hope you enjoy!


  1. Black Flag - Nervous Breakdown (2:05)
  2. Hüsker Dü - I Apologize (3:36)
  3. Angst - Red Wing (2:43)
  4. Minutemen - The Glory of Man (2:57)
  5. Saccharine Trust - We Became Snakes (5:21)
  6. Würm - I'm Dead (3:24)
  7. Bad Brains - Sacred Love (3:36)
  8. No Man is Roger Miller - Calling the Animals (3:56)
  9. Lawndale - Interstellar Caravan (2:49)
10. Das Damen - 555 (ESP With a Fender Version - Long Mix) (6:07)
11. Screaming Trees - Transfiguration (3:55)
12. Slovenly - The Way Untruths Are (4:16)
13. Volcano Suns - Noodle on the Couch (3:56)
14. Dicks - Rich Daddy (2:27)
15. Sonic Youth - Shadow of a Doubt (3:32)
16. Trotsky Icepick - Big Dreams (4:03)
17. Pell Mell - Aero (3:54)
18. fIREHOSE - The Candle and the Flame (3:11)
19. Descendents - Impressions (3:06)
20. Meat Puppets - Away (3:25)
21. Dinosaur Jr. - Lose (3:07)
22. Grant Hart - Twenty-Five Forty-One (4:40)

 Download FLAC
 Download mp3

Songs from Beneath the Spaghetti Tree Vol. 102

 

Back to "normal" for this volume, all tracks picked by me. My next collaboration with Man Erg will most probably be for Volume 105, but if you'd prefer it to sooner please let me know! Once again thanks for all the lovely comments, and I hope you enjoy this latest volume!

  1. Cocteau Twins - Rococo (3:04)
  2. Population II - La Trippance (3:39)
  3. The Cyclist Conspiracy - Virility (6:28)
  4. Robyn Hitchcock and The Egyptians - Never Stop Bleeding (2:44)
  5. Mazarin - Hello Prudence (5:54)
  6. Manfred Mann - A "B" Side (5:12)
  7. The Flat Five - This Is Your Night (2:55)
  8. Monde UFO - Sunset Entertainment 3 (3:50)
  9. Pylon - Cool (3:17)
10. Patti Whipp with The Infinite Blue - It's Gone (2:22)
11. Kendra Smith - Space : Unadorned (4:59)
12. Open Head - House (3:55)
13. Crumb - From Outside a Window Sill (2:36)
14. Bill Nelson - Living in My Limousine (4:10)
15. Bingo Sputnik - Celluloid (2:34)
16. Gulp - Silver Tides (5:27)
17. The Smell of Incense - The Golden Knot (5:48)
18. Traffik Island - Ulla Dulla (2:34)
19. Edwards Hand - Characters Number One (3:55)
20. MIEN - Empty Sun (3:54)

 Download FLAC
 Download mp3

Wire - Partial Exposure 2002 - 2020

 

Short bio:
Wire formed in 1976 in Watford, England and after splitting in 1980, have reformed three times. They consist of Colin Newman (vocals, guitar), Graham Lewis (vocals, bass) and Robert Grey (aka Robert Gotobed; drums). Founding guitarist Bruce Gilbert left in 2004. In 2008, Margaret Fielder McGinnis of Laika joined the band as their touring guitarist, but as of 2010 has been replaced by Matt Simms.

Wire are considered a definitive and highly influential art punk and post-punk band, due to their richly detailed and atmospheric sound and obscure lyrical themes. They steadily developed from an early noise rock style to a more complex, structured sound involving increased use of guitar effects and synthesizers. The band gained a reputation for experimenting with song arrangements throughout their career.

 Click here for full bio

Wire have featured prominently on this blog, appearing multiple times in my "Spaghetti Tree" or yearly "Best of" compilations. Over the years, several compilations of Wire’s music have been released, the most notable being "On Returning (1977-1979)" released in 1989, and "1985-1990: The A List" in 1993. However, no compilation has yet celebrated Wire’s later period. To rectify this, I've picked a few favourite tracks from their various EPs/albums from 2002's "Read & Burn 01" up to their most recent (final?) release, 2020's "10:20" which contains reinterpretations of a few old songs from their back catalogue.
As always, each track’s origin and year of original release are tagged in the music files and in the download file. I hope you enjoy this latest anthology!


  1. I Don't Understand (3:17)
  2. A Flat Ten (2:14)
  3. Hard Currency (3:50)
  4. Underwater Experiences (10:20 Version) (2:15)
  5. Unrepentant (4:56)
  6. Fishes Bones (3:02)
  7. Brio (3:37)
  8. Trash/Treasure (5:07)
  9. In the Art of Stopping (2:46)
10. Re-Invent Your Second Wheel (3:45)
11. Oklahoma (3:05)
12. No Warning Given (5:24)
13. Sleep-Walking (7:27)
14. Four Long Years (3:45)
15. German Shepherds (10:20 Version) (4:28)
16. Clay (3:12)
17. Sleep on the Wing (2:57)
18. Forward Position (4:48)
19. 23 Years Too Late (9:43)

 Download FLAC
 Download mp3