Released at the end of Wire's initial 3rd act period — after Send and before the post-Bruce Gilbert reinvention of the band — Read & Burn 03 never really received the attention it deserved. However, the opening track '23 Years Too Late', with its narrative tour lyrics and motorik rhythm, ranks among the band's greatest achievements from any era, in the eyes of both core fans and the band itself (a rare point of agreement!). The original EP, the 3rd in the Read & Burn series and the one not compiled on the Send album, was the last non-historical release by Wire's original lineup of Colin Newman, Graham Lewis, Bruce Gilbert and Robert Grey and was never properly released on vinyl. The 2026 version takes the CD / PF16PLUSCD KUR22 = 11.74 E 4 original tracks and adds 3 more. Although some of the tracks emerged from the 2021-2022 sessions that produced Send, others have a richer history. 23 Years Too Late actually originated as a heavily transformed cover of Wire's 70s single Dot Dash, The previously unreleased track in its original form is included as a bonus track. Meanwhile, Desert Diving actually originated as a version of the track Heartbeat from Chairs Missing, performed live at the Garage, London, during Wire's series of concerts in May 2000. The original version of Our Time and an alternative mix of Desert Diving are the other bonus tracks. The CD adds the 3:17 remix of 23 Years Too Late.