WIRE - DOCUMENT & EYEWITNESS 1979-1980 

For those unfamiliar with "Document and Eyewitness", it really doesn't do it justice to describe it simply as a collection of live recordings from three turn-of-the-80s WIRE gigs. What makes it more than that is the unorthodox nature of the main performance and the way it was presented on record. The centrepiece of the original vinyl release was a recording of the final gig of WIRE's 70s phase. WIRE's set was composed of largely new (and often under-rehearsed) work, accompanied by a series of artistic actions and interventions. The evening was memorable for the unusually hostile reaction from sections of the audience, which has perhaps elevated it beyond a simple passing moment. If the crowd was expecting a standard gig, the level of outrage, expressed in vociferous abuse suggested that the band's intentions were lost on those in attendance, who were instead confounded by the apparent artistic pretensions on display. The approach was to couple selected live tracks with a spoken commentary on the proceedings by long-term WIRE fans Adrian Garston and Russell Mills. Hence the title, "Document and Eyewitness". For the album, the Electric Ballroom material was supplemented with recordings from a July 1979 show at the Notre Dame Hall (a straightforward band performance), along with one track from a 1979 gig in Montreux. LP Packaged in a gatefold sleeve. Disc 1 is the same as the original vinyl, albeit remastered and re-edited. Disc 2 features the original selection from the Notre Dame Hall show on side one and the two singles and B-sides on side two. Disc 1 Tracks 01-12 from Electric Ballroom. Disc 2 Tracks 13-19 from Notre Dame Hall. Track 20 from Montreux. Tracks 21-22 from "Our Swimmer" (1981) single. Tracks 23-24 from an unreleased 1981 single. 

TRACKLISTING:  01. 5/10 02. 12XU (FRAGMENT) 03. UNDERWATER EXPERIENCES 04. EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE NICE 05. PIANO TUNER (KEEP STRUMMING THOSE GUITARS) 06. WE MEET UNDER TABLES 07. ZEGK HOQP 08. EASTERN STANDARD 09. INSTRUMENTAL (THROWN BOTTLE) 10. EELS SANG LINO 11. REVEALING TRADE SECRETS 12. AND THEN. CODA DISC #2: 01. GO AHEAD 02. ALLY IN EXILE 03. RELATIONSHIP 04. UNDERWATER EXPERIENCES 05. WITNESS TO THE FACT 06. 2 PEOPLE IN A ROOM 07. OUR SWIMMER 08. HEARTBEAT S 09. OUR SWIMMER 10. MIDNIGHT BAHNHOF CAFE 11. SECOND LENGTH (OUR SWIMMER) 12. CATAPULT 30