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LIVE WIRE- Get Back to the City EP Live Wire describe themselves as Nu-New Wave. Now, I am usually tempted
to throw away anything prefixed with these two letters. I just think
the term "Nu" goes hand-in-hand with saying something "sucks";
i.e. it sounds stupid. What's wrong with "Ye Olde New Wave"
anyway? Because this is, after all, what this Cambridgeshire-based four-piece
champion. What's more, if front-woman Meris had a surname (she doesn't
and why should she? Madonna never needed one…), it would be Harry.
Although more like dear ole Debbie's evil tomboy twin, shunning the
shiny dresses and vampy make-up whilst most women dreamt of looking
like everyone's favourite retro bottle-blonde, and the three blokes
in Live Wire were obviously just content to get a singer that sounded
quite like her. In fact, imagine Blondie before they recorded "Tide
is High" and became a Christmas party favourite, too sloppy to
be pop and too pop to be sloppy. With the powerful and sultry vocals
a bit rough around the edges. But in a good way. In short, blending
chugging guitars and infectious melodies with a simple yet effective
rhythm section and a mature take on teenage angst (not to mention a
love of dark glasses), Live Wire are a band that bring back to life
the essence of what was cool about the 70's and 80's (let's face it;
somebody has to) and they should be proud of it. Anna Claxton |
