Wire - Burn & Read 03

For many, Wire’s third act has been a period of understated brilliance, and Read & Burn 03 stands as one of its hidden gems. Originally released after Send and before the band’s post-Bruce Gilbert reinvention, this EP never received the attention it deserved. Opening with the unforgettable “23 Years Too Late,” a tour narrative set to a driving motorik rhythm, the release is widely regarded by fans and the band alike as a career highlight.

This 2026 vinyl edition brings Wire’s original four-track EP to wax for the first time and expands it with three additional tracks. Among these is the original form of “23 Years Too Late,” a highly transformed cover of the 70s single Dot Dash, performed under the moniker Dip Flash at Iain Sinclair’s London Orbital event in 2022. Also included are alternate versions of “Desert Diving” (originating from Chairs Missing), and an early take of “Our Time,” rounding out a release that bridges Wire’s past, present, and experimental edge.

Limited vinyl, essential for fans of post-punk ingenuity and archival treasures.