Colin Newman has always been one to subvert one's expectations. After the release of Wire's seminal album Pink Flag, the band zigged when the world wanted them to zag, with the release of the bruised soundscapes of 154 and Chairs Missing. And when Wire reunited for the second time and graced American stages, they sternly stuck to their new material, only deigning (at least on the night I saw them) to give us a bitter sounding version of one "classic" ("Lowdown"). So, should it be any surprise that his collaboration with wife Malka Spigel (of atmospheric art rockers Minimal Compact) and electronic artiste extraordinaire Robin Rimbaud (otherwise known as Scanner) leaves every speck of pretension and experimentalism behind? What Newman and Co. have given us instead is a brilliantly melodic record, one that hews closely to the ideals of its title. The majority of the tracks on the group's latest effort (they originally intended the band as a one-off project, the fruits of which can be found on 2005's Profile) are incredibly catchy pop songs, reminiscent of some of Newman's best work with "Ahead"-period Wire (especially the shimmering opener "On Your Own" and the nattily beautiful "These Days") and the early solo albums of one of his idols, Brian Eno. The album's cause is furthered thanks to Spigel's lovely contralto which is showcase on several tracks, including "Darkest Star," a pulsing downtempo number, and the buoyant, near perfect "Rotterdam." Never one to eat his own tail, Art Pop shows Newman unblinkingly looking to the future and thinking at least two steps ahead of the rest of the musical world.
--Bob Ham
