Music of the Day: XTC

XTC are my favourite band of all time. More than that, I have aged as they have, and as their music has changed over the years, so my own taste has widened. From their first album ('White Music') way back in 1977, to the eclectic musings of their leader Andy Partridge today, their music has always been with me.

When I first heard 'Science Friction' at my friend's house in the late 70s, I was amazed by the combination of power and melody behind these punk 'wannabees'. When I rushed out and purchased their album, I was enthused even more, and in particular by one of the tracks that appeared on side 1.

'This Is Pop' is to me the perfect pop single, and as I played it again this morning, I was amazed by how fresh and immediate it sounded over thirty years later. In the interim, XTC have given me a whole range of musical genres to discover.

It was on this album that I first heard Bob Dylan's 'All Along the Watchtower' (even the Hendrix cover seems tame compared to this!). Their next album 'Go 2' was their progression into 'new wave'. This was one of the best album covers ever, with a cynical comment on the ever-increasing force of marketing on the music industry, cheekily printed with a section missing so that you would have to match the inner sleeve to the corner of the piece to read it in its entirety. The album also came with a free EP of 'dub' tracks that were remixed from the original album so as to become almost unrecognisable!

The third album 'Drums And Wires' cemented the band into my affections and should have been the album that launched them into the mainstream. Unfortunately around this time, Andy had a nervous breakdown live on stage, which ended XTC's career as a touring band, and from that they never recovered.

In the years that followed they transformed musically through pop, psychedelia (via their alter-ego's the Dukes Of Stratosphear), rock, and even traditional English folk music, but although critically acclaimed nothing seemed to attract Joe Public. It hadn't helped that their only Top 10 single to date had been the gimmicky 'Senses Working Overtime' way back in 1982. 'Dear God' was a college hit in the States, a song that always sends a chill down my spine, but after the release of 'Wasp Star' in 2000, Colin Moulding, the other leading force in the group, parted company with Andy and the band faded away. Andy started his own record label APE and released many XTC demos, out-takes and unreleased tracks on the label, as well as signing some creditable acts, but none have (to date) made any mark pm the charts. Andy has produced and appeared on many albums over the years and his consistent talents have always impressed.

Musically, he is my ultimate hero, not least because of his songwriting talents. Whilst others were writing of 'loves' and 'losts', he was composing songs about transport, buildings and politics - and you have to have talent to do that with any credibility. It's why he's seated on my immediate left in my 'last supper' picture (above) - the first invite tp what would be a great party!

BEST ALBUM: DRUMS AND WIRES (1979)

BIGGEST SINGLE: SENSES WORKING OVERTIME (1982) (lastfm)

FAVOURITE TRACK: `MAYOR OF SIMPLETON' (youtube)- from album ORANGES AND LEMONS (1989)

STARTING POINT: ENGLISH SETTLEMENT (1982)