Wire - 154

Wire – 154
Label: Pinkflag | Format: Vinyl LP (Remastered, Classic Reissue)

Originally released in 1979, 154 is the masterful third entry in Wire’s groundbreaking late-‘70s trilogy—and perhaps their most ambitious and fully realized album. Following the jagged minimalism of Pink Flag and the avant-pop experimentation of Chairs Missing, 154 sees Wire embracing complex arrangements, moodier textures, and an expanded sonic palette without abandoning the sharp-edged intelligence that defined their early work.

From the shimmering melancholy of “Map Ref. 41°N 93°W” to the cryptic menace of “The 15th” and the art-damaged dissonance of “A Touching Display,” 154 is a sprawling, cerebral post-punk landmark. It’s the sound of a band completely in command of their vision—pushing beyond punk’s boundaries into eerie atmospherics, abstract lyricism, and proto-electronic production that would influence generations of artists across post-punk, new wave, industrial, and art rock.

Upon release, 154 was hailed as a creative breakthrough, earning universal five-star reviews in the British press and cementing Wire’s reputation as sonic innovators. Critics compared it favorably to the ambitions of Bowie and Eno, with NME declaring it made “95 percent of the competition look feeble.” While commercial success was elusive, the album’s cultural impact has only grown in the decades since.

This official remastered edition from Wire’s own Pinkflag imprint restores the album’s original artwork and audio with care and fidelity. A pure, undiluted presentation of one of post-punk’s defining statements, 154 is essential listening—bold, haunting, and endlessly influential.