I've been trying to figure out what makes the 'free' CDs that come with The Wire palatable while those that come with The Word often test my patience. It's not that one is less predictable than the other: they've both got a fair idea of who their readers are, and are tailored to a particular niche range of tastes, whether or not that's all down to demographics. It's not that one is less patchy than the other; and it's not that I necessarily like more tracks on Wire Tapper CDs than I do on Now Hear This! CDs — because I don't.
All covermount CDs that try to give you a sample of what's new and interesting are bound to be patchy, and are bound to fail in the end.
My tentative conclusion is that it's in the style of failure that The Wire Tappers distinguish themselves. There are good and bad ways to fail. Going all out with the courage of your convictions is a good way, even if the results are the kind of thing that would break the spirit of anyone interned in Guantanamo detention camp — that's a good way. Sounding like something that's been targeted at getting on the playlist of one of Radio 2's lesser known specialist shows is not so good.
I'm getting behind with my listening (work isn't to blame, cricket is), so only had a chance to listen through to these CDs once while sat at the computer today. Favourites were the tracks by Supersilent (who I usually find too self-consciously difficult) and A Small Good Thing, of whom I'd never heard before.
MusicBrainz entry for disc 1, disc 2
Wikipedia entry for this album
Rate Your Music entry for this album
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