AC Marias – One Of Our Girls (Has Gone Missing)

Part of a myriad of excellent side projects from the various members of Wire after their temporary dissolution in 1981, AC Marias was created by bassist Graham Lewis, guitarist Bruce Gilbert and frequent collaborator Angela Conway. Although Wire had started as a punk band, the group rapidly transcended the genre, experimenting with bold sonic textures and new ideas leading up to their breakup. Lewis and Gilbert particularly veered away from any resemblance to pop formula with their projects Dome, Cupol and Duet Emmo, creating music akin to Throbbing Gristle and Eno’s Ambient projects. AC Marias took this challenging direction and turned it pop, with Conway’s effortlessly ethereal vocals delicately floating over repetitive and cold guitar grooves, synth blips and rhythm boxes. A mesmerizing album full of near hits and spacious intrigue.

– Cole Kinnear

Recommended: A2 Just Talk, A4 Our Dust, B5 One of Our Girls has Gone Missing