fire + theft are back on narcotix inc. with their second e.p. and the plot thickens. after some fine performances over the spring and summer they return to the studio with more emphasis on the live elements such as guitar and, most notably the vocals. “game 9” is a superlative eight and a half minute journey through matt c’s shimmering rhythms and eerie sound scaping, becky’s sensual vocals and matt l’s boundless guitar work. games 1-8 remain mysteriously unaccounted for.

“shelter”, a ballad of sorts with a few musical twists, has long been a stage favourite with it’s stirring vocal refrains and slo-mo jazz n’ bass, and has even been known to raise a lighter or two. fans of the shows will no doubt be delighted by it’s appearance on vinyl at last particularly as it is accompanied by “different shelter”; a radical and deliciously provocative remix of the former. somewhere back in the early 70’s, in a dark basement club, by the pink and orange glow of a coloured-oil projector, long forgotten cast members of “the Sweeney” and “space 1999” are waiting for that faceless, afro-haired d.j. to spin this just one more time.