Overwhelmingly strange
Said Head | MN, USA | 08/19/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album (well, 2) are completely lacking of the substance that made Wire popular. In Wire's first few albums they brushed against the avant-garde on a number of occasions (especially during their live performances). While Newman and Gotobed went on making A-Z, technically Colin's solo debut, Gilbert and Lewis were heavily at work in 1980 making these two albums (Dome 1 are tracks 1-10, 2 are 11-17). I had gotten A-Z first, thinking that was strange, but this really shows their (Wire bandmates) at the peak of their creativity, using tapes, noise, instrument feedback, voice-overs, and whatever these two fellows could get their hands on.
It's hard for me to describe it, but altogether you hear ambience, noise, choiresque vocals, spoken word, mild electronica, and some very unique guitar work. It'll also make you feel like you're being held in a dungeon, and this is the soundtrack to your being tortured. I used to think Lewis and Newman were the two powerhouses of creativity behind Wire, but Gibert's contributions become much clearer in Dome (take Wire's new album for instance, very lacking artistically without him).
For Pink Flag fans, stay away from this because it'll only disturb your fickle, punk-loving minds; for actual Wire fans (and I mean that literally, as Pink Flag is Wire's only punk album), this is a don't-miss item, artistically and historically."
My introduction to experimental music
C. J. Van Hall | Arnhem, The Netherlands | 08/20/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Dome I is so brilliant in its set up. Very spheric and with the help of the esoteric voice of AC Marias. Dome II is very strong on the heavy sounds and gets industrial grooves grinding along. For me, these albums are on vinyl. But for anyone else: you can't go wrong with this album if you like the experiments within Wire and the adventures of 2 great artists in ambient/industrial/experimental soundscapes. I will get this one too as cd. That will be the third time I will buy Dome I, as one got lost at the time. I will buy it a fourth time in the future if somethingh bad happens to the other two albums I will have after ordering this cd."
Track Listings (17) - Disc #1
