Wire – Red Barked Tree

I was hesitant the first time I played my copy after reading the reviews of the pressing both here and elsewhere - especially as mine had visible surface scuffs and pressing dimples. However I was pleasantly surprised to find that, while not fantastic, there's little wrong with my copy in a technical sense. The entirety of both sides have little to no audible background noise, decent (if not spectacular) dynamics, and good general audio quality. The only fault with mine is that side B is pressed slightly off-centre, though it took until the final track for me to notice it.

In short, if you can find this for a fair price, it's probably at least worth the gamble on whether you get one that's pressed properly or not. It's by no means perfect, but the pressing quality is about on-par with most records from around the time this was released, i.e. fine but not audiophile quality.

Sounds gorgeous and rich in 2022, no problems to be found.

I am reading your comments very carefully. I am very amazed because my copy turns out to be perfect! there is nothing anomalous in it: no distortions, no jumps, no background noises or problems relating to a bad transfer from the original tapes. in short, my copy is devoid of impereions so much so that it sounds better than the CD. have any of you encountered the same? Is it possible that he is the only one who has such a perfect copy?

This test pressing appears to have much fewer pressing flaws than the official vinyl release. I suggest snagging a copy – I'm happy with mine.

I’m happy to read it’s not just me who had a copy that sounds like a bag of crisps

It makes me feel better to know my copy of Red Barked Trees is shitty like all the rest. Mine isn't so bad, but the last song on the first side is really irritating.

Bought a copy of the vinyl on release date that has the mentioned problems, bought another copy today, sounds fine.

Just spoke to someone at Wire's merchant store who clarified that the Res Barked Tree vinyl has been re manufactured. I'm not willing to test the waters though.

What's there to say about Wire. Their debut album was 1977, they've done quite a few since then. It could be argued that the ship sailed after guitarist Bruce Gilbert left in 2004, but then along came their 2008 record "Object 47" which blew apart anyone's conceptions about the tank being on empty. "Red Barked Tree" sounds more like a Colin Newman solo record than something Wire would put out, he's their front-man by the way. This isn't a good sign, then again there are enough moments on here to salvage what would otherwise be a rather indulgent exercise in monotony. They seem to have gone for a gray, unyielding tone of resigned aplomb with this one. It may take a few more listens but this outing just doesn't have any songs which stand out. It's not surprising that a maudlin offering would come from them, it's happened before. Manscape, anyone?

Over the arc of the album you can feel the weight of what it must be like for this band to be themselves. They don't sound like anyone else, this much you should know but there isn't a whole lot of innovation going on and by the time you finish listening to "Red Barked Tree", you're wondering where the rest of it is. Wire sound as taut as their name, there's no flab in their music or anything excessively done in the arrangements but it all just feels so obligatory which is about the last thing you'd expect from one of (if not the) definitive groups of the punk/post-punk era. They are in their fifties at this point, so perhaps they're simply mellowing. I'd hate to think they were bowing to the conventions of expectation by compromising. After all, it's not as though they aren't known and it isn't as if there's some record label breathing down their neck making draconian demands: it's their own label putting it out!

I don't know what to feel about all this but it isn't a pleasant set of thoughts. Perhaps it's time to set Wire down for a while, a good long while. Thirty-three years of work is enough to burn anyone out, even these fellows.

Another superb album from one of my favourite bands of all time. However, I strongly urge all NOT TO BUY THIS RELEASE ON VINYL. It is covered in small dents, it crackles, and, most disappointingly of all, just sounds plain awful. Suggestive of a cheaply-done pressing. A friend bought it on CD, however, and it sounds great, so I advise going with that.