Chairs Missing marks a partial retreat from
Pink Flag's bare-bones minimalism, although it still takes concentrated listening to dig out some of the melodies. Producer
Mike Thorne's synth adds a
Brian Eno-esque layer of atmospherics, and
Wire seems more concerned with the sonic textures it can coax from its instruments; the tempos are slower, the arrangements employ more detail and sound effects, and the band allows itself to stretch out on a few songs. The album's clear high point is the statement of purpose
"I Am the Fly," which employs an emphasis-shifting melody and guitar sounds that actually evoke the sound of the title insect. But that's not all by any means --
"Outdoor Miner" and
"Used To" have a gentle lilt, while
"Sand in My Joints" is a brief anthem worthy of
Pink Flag, and the four-minute
"Practice Makes Perfect" is the best result of the album's incorporation of unusual electronic flavors. In general, the lyrics are darker than those on
Pink Flag; images of cold, drowning, pain, and suicide haunt the record, and the title itself is a reference to mental instability. The arty darkness of
Chairs Missing, combined with the often icy-sounding synth/guitar arrangements, helps make the record a crucial landmark in the evolution of
punk into
post-punk and
goth, as well as a testament to
Wire's rapid development and inventiveness. ~ Steve Huey
