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Having been a long term follower of Wire Jesus
live, I was pretty excited to have a copy of their new, double
A-side single in my hot little hands, and felt compelled to
write a few words about it. The single contains the tracks 'The
Intruder (Make It Better)' and 'Another Day.' 'Another Day' has
been a long time staple of Wire Jesus’ gigs, with 'The Intruder'
a more recent addition.
'The Intruder' has been a personal live favourite ever since its
debut. Whatever an audience's reaction to the preceding songs in
a set, there's no doubt that when 'The Intruder' comes on,
people stop their chit-chat and start taking notice. So it must
have been an easy choice as the first song on this double A-side
single. The song has translated beautifully to a recorded medium
and retains all the power and majesty that it has live.
The Intruder of the title is none other than that old black dog,
depression. It opens sparsely, with the piano providing a slow
and steady heartbeat, and the guitar echoing like unwanted
thoughts around your skull. Mike Murray’s and Amy Barton's
harmonies float around each other, lamenting their “pitiful”
condition, while the cello and guitar creep in and out, creating
an uncertain soundscape. Surely the perfect soundtrack to a
troubled mind!
Slowly everything starts to come together, with the drums now
echoing the opening heartbeat, and the lyrics leaving behind
their earlier powerlessness, the song builds towards rebellion
at the unwanted Intruder. Amy's vocals take on a new strength as
she cries 'Make it better' and the entire song shifts gear into
a frenzy of overlapping instruments and harmonies, leaving the
listener breathless.
The AA side 'Another Day' while not as dramatic as the opener,
manages to be just as affecting. It’s a heartfelt plea to a
lover, to allow just one more day to make things work. While
this would hardly seem to be the most uplifting subject matter,
somehow that’s exactly what this song manages to be, beautifully
warm and soothing. Just allow the lush instrumentation and Amy’s
ethereal voice to wash over you, and lose yourself in this tale
of the slow fade of love from a relationship.
Wire Jesus write beautiful, multi-layered songs that explore all
facets of human nature, and this single showcases them at their
most eloquent and touching. You can check them out for
yourselves at Josaka’s 7th Birthday at South Street on the 25
February, where they’re giving away free copies of this very
single. See how they spoil us?
Review by Bethanee
Copyright Josaka
23 February 2006
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