On this day, 29 years ago, British post-punk band Wire released their 7th studio album Manscape

On this day, 29 years ago, British post-punk band Wire released their 7th studio album Manscape (15.05.1990). It was produced by David M.Allen (who, amongst others, produced various albums of The Cure and The Sisters Of Mercy's First Last And Always) and introduced even more the use of electronic instruments than on Wire's previous albums. Almost all bass and drums were sequenced and even-though Wire drummer Robert Gotobed co-composed all tracks on this album he didn’t join them on stage during the 1990 promotional tour.

Upon release the album was received with mixed feelings by music critics mainly because Wire pretty much abandonned the whole rock-band setup switching primarily to synthesizers but, according to some critics, lacked to put them to great use.
The original vinyl release has a significantly different running order and omits "Life in the Manscape", "Stampede" and "Children of Groceries".

Manscape UK Vinyl Version (STUMM 80)

1. "Patterns Of Behaviour"
2. "Goodbye Ploy"
3. "Morning Bell"
4. "Small Black Reptile"
5. "Torch It!"
6. "Other Moments"
7. "Sixth Sense"
8. "What Do You See? (Welcome)"
9. "Where's The Deputation?"
10. "You Hung Your Lights In The Trees / A Craftsman's Touch"

Manscape CD version (CDSTUMM 80)

1. "Life in the Manscape" – 3:28
2. "Stampede" – 4:35
3. "Patterns of Behaviour" – 4:33
4. "Other Moments" – 3:50
5. "Small Black Reptile" – 3:14
6. "Torch It!" – 7:31
7. "Morning Bell" – 4:22
8. "Where's the Deputation?" – 3:51
9. "What Do You See?" (Elvander, Gilbert, Gotobed, Lewis, Newman) – 6:47
10. "Goodbye Ploy" – 3:50
11. "Sixth Sense" – 4:19
12. "Children of Groceries" – 3:03
13. "You Hung Your Lights in the Trees/A Craftsman's Touch" – 10:03

All tracks written by Bruce Gilbert, Robert Gotobed, Graham Lewis and Colin Newman, except as indicated.