New Sarah Cracknell Ablum ft Nicky Wire

[Bathtub]

http://www.nme.com/news/saint-etienne/84566

Isn't it bad enough that his own band let him sing on their albums, let alone other people?

I think it's an album she's releasing not an 'ablum'

[sculptureofabloke]

That'd be a weird duet..

[MSPKYE]

The precursor to the return of the man in the pink suit....?

[Bambi]

Originally Posted by MSPKYE

The precursor to the return of the man in the pink suit....?

I hope so! And at the same time, I hope that doesn't happen. There was something perfect and also perfectly, wonderfully, inexpertly, drunkenly crap about that little capsule of Wire solo and it wouldn't be quite the same again. Still regret never actually seeing him myself on that jaunt.

Anyway, back on track, he's not yet confirmed as a guest vocalist on this track. He could be providing some slinky and elegant basslines! Or bongos. Or vege-table crunching noises.

Let's not jump to potentially inaccurate conclusions.

[Automatik]

This has me all excited now.

[Flint]

Originally Posted by Bambi

Anyway, back on track, he's not yet confirmed as a guest vocalist on this track. He could be providing some slinky and elegant basslines! Or bongos. Or vege-table crunching noises.

"The first influences Carwyn and I started talking about were -- records where an odd instrument or noise sits right at the top of the mix and becomes the hook. I wanted to accentuate the wrong thing and try to stop people in their tracks."

Sounds like Wire vocals!

[hummingbird]

[gracie]

I think Nicky adds a nice contrast-y element to other people's vocals.

[Porco]

'Nothing Left to Talk About' [ft. Nicky Wire]

Final proof that there's a first time for everything? Or perhaps Nicky is there to helpfully offer suggestions for topics of conversation…?!

[hummingbird]

when there's nothing left to talk about
talk about your politics degree

possible chorus?

[Dac X Lee]

Nicky's not such a bad singer. Technically maybe, he is, but art is more than techniques. And Nicky's skill seems just that of any ordinary person. And his voice colour isn't that bad either.

[Flint]

Yeah to be honest I love his voice, especially when in contrast with others. This should be an interesting duet.

[Takk]

Screaming Knowlede Is Power?

[franny]

I'm imagining Wire singing You're In A Bad Way and it really works, bring it on.

[Automatik]

Originally Posted by Dac X Lee

Nicky's not such a bad singer. Technically maybe, he is, but art is more than techniques. And Nicky's skill seems just that of any ordinary person. And his voice colour isn't that bad either.

Originally Posted by Flint

Yeah to be honest I love his voice, especially when in contrast with others. This should be an interesting duet.

I agree. Nicky's voice suits certain songs perfectly (I Killed The Zeitgeist, Stab Yr Heart, Bobby Untitled, Wattsville Blues, Lazy Lazarus) - the problem is when it doesn't suit a song, it really doesn't (Engage With Your Shadow springs to mind).

Flint's point about the way Nicky's voice often complements others' is important. There are plenty of everyone's favourite Manics' songs where the vocal component consists of Nicky on backing vocals, and no one's complained.

One of the reasons I love Lady Lazarus so much is that it plays with that expectation: Nicky on lead vocals and James on backing vocals, but the wonderul contrast of their two voices is still there and works brilliantly.