WIRES are a Bristol-based four piece playing a smart brand of melodic rock with a punky, post-hardcore edge. The three tracks on ‘To Conquer The Waves’ range from the Brand New influenced ‘Vine & Valour’ to the soaring, post-hardcore pseudo-ballad ‘Victor’, which features a gorgeous, synth-like processed guitar washing over the verses in a way that’s perfectly engineered to sound like waves on a beach, drifting in and out. Like a more guitar based incarnation of Elliott, Wires tread the line between pulsing rock and something more sweetly atmospheric.
They seem to consciously attempt to not always progress the songs in the expected manner, backing down when it would seem more likely to explode and vice versa, building crescendos only to switch back to the slow build, holding the listener’s attention expertly.
‘Annie’ even goes as far as to cheekily nick French pianist Erik Satie’s piano melody from ‘Gymnopedie Number One’, working it into a wistful track that wouldn’t sound out of place in a Hollywood bar at three in the morning, all romantic longing and sparse piano before clean guitars and bass carry the song back to its stark melody.
Astonishingly accomplished for a band so early in their career, Wires are going places, utilising lush melodies and some inspired songwriting to create a sweetly-lulling listening experience. They’ll also have you breaking out your Elliott albums again for a revival!
ROGER HOLLAND