Ironisch dat een groep die ooit jarenlang in staking ging uit protest tegen de
manier waarop ze door haar toenmalige platenfirma werd behandeld nu zelf op een
ongeziene manier haar fans exploiteert. XTC richtte, nadat Virgin uiteindelijk
toch het contract had verbroken, een eigen labeltje op, waarop ze kort na
elkaar twee uitstekende cd's uitbrachten. Nadien brachten ze van zowel Apple
Venus als Wasp Star ook nog eens een cd met demoversies uit en nu zijn al die
platen op hun beurt weer verzameld in een sober verpakte vierdelige cd-box,
aangedikt met een boekje vol songteksten en aantekeningen. Andy Partridge en
Colin Moulding recycleren intensiever dan de gemiddelde milieuactivist, maar op
de songs zelf valt nog altijd weinig af te dingen. De invloeden van The
Beatles en The Kinks schemeren door, de teksten van hypochonder Partridge zijn
even scherp als genadeloos en vooral 'Your Dictionary', een in vitriool
geschreven nummer over zijn echtscheiding, behoort tot het beste wat de groep
ooit heeft opgenomen. De vraag is alleen wie deze box zal kopen: echte fans
hebben alles wat erop staat en voor de modaal geïnteresseerde volstaan de
twee 'moederplaten' ruimschoots. Een marketingoefening waar niet lang genoeg
over nagedacht is. Trouwens, waar blijft die nieuwe cd? (Ape / Cooking
Vinyl)
By the time Apple Venus was released, XTC had formed their own record
company (Idea Records) and were now in full control of their music. Originally
intended as a double-album set, Apple Venus and Wasp Star are, in
fact, two separate albums with their own unique sound. The first is more
orchestral, with glimmering strings, mirthful woodwinds, carnival keyboards and
subdued percussion flown throughout the songs. The second album leans more
towards traditional rock, yet features unconventional instruments such as a
flugelhorn buried among the guitars and drums. What's truly impressive is the
way Nick Davis, their current producer, is able to blend all these varied
sounds without the songs degenerating into chaos. If anything, these two albums
could be used in a school for recording engineers and songwriters to learn how
to perfect their craft.
Fans of XTC might be a little disappointed at the lack of bonus material
included in the Apple Box - after all, there's not much here that hasn't
been previously released, and the two new songs included are digital downloads
- so if you don't have easy internet access, you might feel a bit slighted.
Also, there's no inclusion of either of the two Japan-only instrumental albums
that keep fanatics like myself scouring the imports sections (although the
entertaining liner notes by Andy and Colin from those sets are included here -
a treasure all by themselves). Finally, new listeners might not appreciate the
demo versions (which do offer an insightful look at just how songs can change
from conception to completion), preferring instead to simply purchase the
individual albums. These minor packaging flaws are the only reasons why the
Apple Box collection fails to get a full 4-star rating, and shouldn't be
taken as a criticism of the brilliant music contained within.
Cuando en 1992 el entonces trio de Andy Partridge,
Colin Moulding y Dave Gregory lanzó el magnífico disco Nonsuch,
no imaginaban que sería el último capítulo de una larga y
fructífera carrera de XTC con el sello Virgin, iniciada en 1978.
Durante los primeros 4 años fue una de las más vitales y exitosas
bandas del post punk británico, hasta que en 1982 Partridge
sufrió un colapso nervioso al comienzo de la gira norteamericana y
decidió retirarse de los escenarios. Lo secundaron sus
compañeros, menos el baterista Terry Chambers. Con Mummer (83) y The Big
Express (84) poco a poco fueron mutando hacia sonoridades cercanas a la
psicodelia pop beatleliana, una etapa en la que editaron obras de alto
contenido estético y melódico, especialmente Skylarking (86).
Diez años sin tocar en directo cambiaron la dinámica de trabajo
de XTC, así como la visión que la disquera tenía sobre el
grupo, colocando cada vez menos resursos en las campañas de
promoción. No tardarían en quedarse sin contrato, comenzando un
dificil período de silencio discográfico que se extendió
hasta finales de la pasada década. Divorcios, dependencia alcoholica,
ataques de pánico, operaciones y otros problemas, agudizaron la crisis
económica y existencial de estos talentosos músicos, herederos
directos de The Beatles, Kinks y otros iconos del pop inglés.It's Nearly XTC
I've loved XTC for many years, and faithfully bought every CD without auditioning it - any music made by Messurs Partridge and Moulding was enough of a mark of quality for me. However, over the last couple of years, it seems Andy has gone a bit crazy with the releases since they've been released from Virgin.
Fuzzy Warbles, his demo collection series, is a fine idea. I enjoyed those releases, mostly because I love hearing demos, unreleased ideas, snippets, etc. I thought releasing demo collections of Apple Venus and Wasp Star was even OK. I was even OK with instrumental re-packaging of those two albums, even though I only bought one of them.
But now, Andy & Colin have released AV and WS together again, only as a special 4 CD box set (the two original albums, housed with the demo collections of each album). I could ignore this triple-dipping very easily, if it weren't for the inclusion of a download (yes, a download, not even a real CD!) of 2 new tracks. You can only get them if you buy the box.
This is the first new material we've heard from them in years, and they obviously know that true die-hard XTC fans will pony up the dough to purchase albums that they've already bought 3 times for the delight of hearing 2 measly songs. This bugs me.
I know Andy and Co. got royally screwed over the Virgin deal (and continue to be!), but that doesn't warrant this kind of fan abuse. It's not the fans fault they didn't get their financial due, so why are they treating us like we have to make up the slack? What's even more puzzling is the recent find of BOTH songs on the internet:
XTC - Spiral
XTC - Say It
from Apple Box
"Spiral" seems catchy enough, but there's something hollow about this song - it reminds me of a band trying really hard to sound like XTC. I'm not really convinced of Andy's love of his 45 collection...rhyming "vinyl" with "spinal" is a bit silly. Normally I don't mind silly lyrics, but I've been spoiled by Andy in the past. The production is also uninspiring; does he really like that fake flute patch?
One thing that's extremely noticable here is the lack of Dave Gregory's guitar work; Dave's subtle touches and consumate musicianship really gave XTC their bite. Andy is a fine guitarist, but he doesn't love the instrument the way Dave does and you can hear the difference on songs like this.
However, Colin's song "Say It" fares better, lyrically and musically steeping in his trademark deadpan British delivery. Only he can do this kind of soft-shoe pop music and get away with it.
So I'm torn, happy that I didn't have to pay to hear "Spiral", but also "Say It" restores my faith in purchasing the new CD (whenever the hell it's coming out) without hearing it first.
ETA: The link to the Toolshed download has been removed for now, because they didn't think I should link to "Spiral" and have an unfavorable opinion of it. Thanks for the friendly advice, I'll just refrain from linking to you at all.
Fuzzy Warbles, his demo collection series, is a fine idea. I enjoyed those releases, mostly because I love hearing demos, unreleased ideas, snippets, etc. I thought releasing demo collections of Apple Venus and Wasp Star was even OK. I was even OK with instrumental re-packaging of those two albums, even though I only bought one of them.
But now, Andy & Colin have released AV and WS together again, only as a special 4 CD box set (the two original albums, housed with the demo collections of each album). I could ignore this triple-dipping very easily, if it weren't for the inclusion of a download (yes, a download, not even a real CD!) of 2 new tracks. You can only get them if you buy the box.
This is the first new material we've heard from them in years, and they obviously know that true die-hard XTC fans will pony up the dough to purchase albums that they've already bought 3 times for the delight of hearing 2 measly songs. This bugs me.
I know Andy and Co. got royally screwed over the Virgin deal (and continue to be!), but that doesn't warrant this kind of fan abuse. It's not the fans fault they didn't get their financial due, so why are they treating us like we have to make up the slack? What's even more puzzling is the recent find of BOTH songs on the internet:
XTC - Spiral
XTC - Say It
from Apple Box
"Spiral" seems catchy enough, but there's something hollow about this song - it reminds me of a band trying really hard to sound like XTC. I'm not really convinced of Andy's love of his 45 collection...rhyming "vinyl" with "spinal" is a bit silly. Normally I don't mind silly lyrics, but I've been spoiled by Andy in the past. The production is also uninspiring; does he really like that fake flute patch?
One thing that's extremely noticable here is the lack of Dave Gregory's guitar work; Dave's subtle touches and consumate musicianship really gave XTC their bite. Andy is a fine guitarist, but he doesn't love the instrument the way Dave does and you can hear the difference on songs like this.
However, Colin's song "Say It" fares better, lyrically and musically steeping in his trademark deadpan British delivery. Only he can do this kind of soft-shoe pop music and get away with it.
So I'm torn, happy that I didn't have to pay to hear "Spiral", but also "Say It" restores my faith in purchasing the new CD (whenever the hell it's coming out) without hearing it first.
ETA: The link to the Toolshed download has been removed for now, because they didn't think I should link to "Spiral" and have an unfavorable opinion of it. Thanks for the friendly advice, I'll just refrain from linking to you at all.
2 Comments:
Actually, the band released those tracks over the internet as part of a promotion for the box set, which is finally being released as it was intended (both records in one package). It's sad that your commentary about the song Spiral is lifted nearly verbatim from the Pitchfork slag of the song.
While I would certainly not classify it as one of their best, I think it is a song that certainly grows on you, especially the spiraling vocals in the chorus.
For the record, I work for a company called Toolshed, and we are working promoting this box set. I was thrilled because I have been an XTC fan for years. Your link to the tune comes from our servers, which is totally fine, but have a bit of respect for their escape from the majors and creating their own label. They released this tune for free for their fans and it does is disservice, in my opinion, to try to make it something it isn't.
I am a big XTC fan and I have total respect for them escaping the majors. But as a discriminating fan, I can't see how that excuses the excessive repackaging of their indie material.
And I didn't copy the Pitchfork review, although I agree with it. Your comment reads more like promotion copy.
I am not doing XTC a disservice by reviewing the single unfavorably. But if you believe I should not link to it unless it is favorable, I will not cause you or the nice people at Toolshed any distress, and remove the link to your site.