The First Letter

Not to be confused with A.

The First Letter
Studio album by
Wir
ReleasedOctober 1991 (1991-10)
Recorded1991
StudioWorldwide International, London
Swanyard Recording Studios, London
Genre
Length54:50
LanguageEnglish
LabelMute
Producer
Wir chronology
The Drill
(1991) 		The First Letter
(1991) 		1985–1990: The A List
(1993)
Singles from The First Letter
  1. "So and Slow It Grows"
    Released: April 1991[1]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Robert ChristgauA−[3]

The First Letter is the ninth studio album and the last album released by Wire before their second extended hiatus. It was released in October 1991 by Mute Records.[4] It was one of only three releases credited to "Wir", the others being the "So and Slow It Grows" single, and a limited edition two-song EP entitled Vien. The band changed their name to "Wir"[5] after drummer Robert Gotobed's departure; he quit the band because the musical direction increasingly relied on drum machines and loops. Other than an Erasure remix in 1995,[6] the band would not reform until 1999, and not release any new material until 2002's Read & Burn 01 and Read & Burn 02 EPs and 2003's subsequent Send album. The First Letter produced the single "So and Slow It Grows."

  1. ^ Lester, Paul (2009). Lowdown: The Story of Wire. London: Omnibus Press. p. 180. ISBN 978-1-84772-710-7.
  2. ^ Allmusic review
  3. ^ Robert Christgau review
  4. ^ Lester 2009, p. 163.
  5. ^ "Wir Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  6. ^ "Erasure – Fingers & Thumbs (Cold Summer's Day) cover credits". Discogs. Retrieved 12 January 2023.