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FEATURED SONG
Chalkhills And Children (2001 - Remaster)
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Chalkhills And Children (2001 - Remaster)
Released: Mar 3, 2003
Label: CAROLINE ASTRALWERKS - CAT

General Info

  • Genre: Alternative / New Wave / Pop

    Location Swindon, UK

    Profile Views: 878968

    Last Login: 5/7/2013

    Member Since 10/26/2005

    Website ape.uk.net

    Record Label Ape House Records, Idea Records

    Type of Label Indie

  • Bio

    .. .. .. .. ..Like what you hear above? Want to help support the band?.... ..Visit Andy's APE House Boutique.. .. ..Follow Andy on Twitter..! .... In 1977, with punk and new wave dominating the musical landscape in England, a distinctive quartet known as XTC -- made up of guitarist and singer Andy Partridge, bassist and singer Colin Moulding, keyboard player Barry Andrews, and drummer Terry Chambers -- began attracting the interest of record companies with its brand of melodic, hyperactive pop music. .... Partridge, the band's principal songwriter and public persona, was from the beginning a force to be reckoned with. His frenetic guitar playing and hiccuping vocals on XTC's early efforts were full of dissonance and a rhythmic tension and energy that kept the band from being pigeonholed with other acts of the era. Moulding, who penned many of the band's early singles, preferred to play the quiet foil to Partridge. His gift for melody and more-straightforward approach to songwriting, as well as his distinctive and tasteful bass playing, caused him to be viewed by many as McCartney to Partridge's Lennon. .... ..The Early Years.... Working from its base in Swindon, an industrial town nestled in the heart of bucolic Wiltshire, XTC signed with Virgin Records and began a rigorous cycle of recording and roadwork. ..White Music.. and ..Go2.. both were released in 1978 -- as was keyboardist Barry Andrews, who had brought a dissonant playing style and outrageous stage presence that matched Partridge well, but whose songwriting didn't mesh with the rest of the band's vision. .... 1979 saw the release of breakout effort ..Drums and Wires.., as well as the arrival of guitarist and keyboard player Dave Gregory, an accomplished musician and soloist whose talent and technique lifted the band to a new level. Following on the success of the single "Making Plans for Nigel," XTC went right back in the studio with D&W producer/engineer team Steve Lillywhite and Hugh Padgham to create 1980's muscular follow-up ..Black Sea.., which, with its huge drum sound and hummable, danceable, and resolutely intelligent songs, kept the promise shown by the previous release. .... ..The End of Touring.... After an exhausting year of touring and writing, the band returned in 1982 with the double-LP ..English Settlement... Featuring an irresistible mix of pastoral sensibilities and power pop, the Partridge-penned "Senses Working Overtime" positioned the band for overwhelming commercial success. But that promise came to an end later that year, during the band's first stadium tour as headliners, when Partridge called a halt to touring after the grinding years of album-tour-album-tour became too much for him to endure. .... The execs at Virgin were aghast -- no more touring surely would mean commercial suicide for the band, which had been selling more albums with each release and playing bigger venues with each tour. But the outspoken Partridge was adamant. "Why should I work at something I don't enjoy?" he said at the time. "If I'm going to do that, I might as well shovel shit for a living." .... The decision to stop touring weighed heavily on Gregory and down-to-earth drummer Chambers -- neither were songwriters, and both enjoyed the time on the road spent supporting each new album. Gregory adjusted, but the issue came to a head for Chambers during the recording of 1983's ..Mummer.., when he called it quits and moved to Australia. Since then, six drummers -- Peter Phipps, Ian Gregory, Prairie Prince, Pat Mastellotto, Dave Mattacks, and Chuck Sabo -- have played on the albums that the band has recorded as XTC and as psychedelic alter-ego The Dukes of Stratosphear. .... Ironically, XTC found its greatest commercial success during this post-touring era. Admittedly, neither ..Mummer.. or 1984's ..The Big Express.. satisfied Virgin's appetite for profit -- the pair of albums' exploration of rural and urban England failed to translate into the kind of sales that earlier albums had seen, though both albums contained wonderful songs that amply demonstrated the band's growth. But the controversial "Dear God," from 1986's ..Skylarking.., introduced many American fans to the band, while singles like "The Mayor of Simpleton" and "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead," off 1989's ..Oranges and Lemons.. and 1992's ..Nonsuch.., respectively, cemented the band's place in the hearts of critics as well as on the American college charts. .... ..The Strike ... and Freedom.... But with the release of ..Nonsuch.., Partridge and the band's shaky relationship with Virgin reached another turning point. Fed up with the terms of their deal and frustrated by the label's reluctance to renegotiate it or release them from it, XTC -- in another act of what many called commercial suicide -- went on strike. Band members supported themselves by playing on and producing other artists' albums, but refused to record any new music for Virgin until an agreement was reached. That moment came in 1997, when the company released the band from its contract and XTC set up its own label, Idea Records. .... What followed was a pair of albums that originally were supposed to be a single release. But money troubles and band difficulties (Gregory left the band in 1998) forced the releases to be split into 1999's ..Apple Venus Volume 1.. and 2000's ..Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2) ... Partridge coined the terms "orchoustic" and "eclectric" to respectively describe the two albums, and critics and fans alike hailed the return of the band to form. The albums, accompanied by the demo tracks from each album, as well as a new song each from both Moulding and Partridge, were reunited in a ..boxed set.. released by Idea in late 2005. .... ..The Future.... What's next on the horizon for XTC? It's hard to say. The band has inked a new deal with Virgin, so re-mastered re-releases of XTC albums appear imminent. ..The Dukes.. have resurfaced on Partridge's own record label, ..APE.., which he's also leveraged to release collaborations with other artists (including ..Veda Hille.., ..Lighterthief.., ..Milk and Honey Band.., ..Jen Olive.., ..Pugwash..), and compilations of his own demos and unreleased tracks under the nameplate ....Fuzzy Warbles..... He also reunited with ex-XTC keyboardist ..Barry Andrews.. to release (along with drummer Martyn Barker) ....Monstrance...., a double-disc set that was recorded live, with no overdubs, and completely improvised. Partridge remains in demand as a songwriter, player, and producer, and various unreleased collaborations and solo projects have fueled speculation about future releases. .... ..To find out more, visit:.... - ..The APE House.. .... - ..Chalkhills.., the oldest and most comprehensive fan-resource on the Web .... - ..Optimism's Flames.., a multimedia feast for the eyes.. .... - ..All Music Guide..'s listing for the band .... - ..XTC on Twitter.. .... Thanks for visiting the XTCfans site! Come back often for news and new songs, and be sure to subscribe to the blog above..... ©2009 by ..Todd Bernhardt.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..   ..Video.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

  • Members

    .. Andy Partridge - Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals.... Colin Moulding - Bass, Vocals.... Former members include:.... Dave Gregory - Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals.. Terry Chambers - Drums.. Barry Andrews - Keyboards, Vocals..

  • Influences

    The Beatles, The Kinks, The Beach Boys, and many more

  • Sounds Like

    XTC, The Beatles, The Kinks, The Beach Boys

Stream

  5. XTC

    Happy birthday to Colin Ivor Moulding, born on this day in 1955. May you blow out many more candles, Mr. M!

    Matt Cook, Silent Sprout, Cassie Chichans and 5 Others liked this.

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Comments

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  • Mark Cook

    What will it take to get Andy, Dave and Colin together?? Dreaming.. 

    5 months ago
  • deathvalleypizza

    happy holidays guys . . . 

    6 months ago
  • ikd-sj

    "dear god" surprised

    7 months ago
  • TRIBO da PESADA

    Love that XTC - let's do a collaboration ! 

    1 year ago
  • Peter Wesley Bastone

    thanks for the add!

    Check out the XTC Tribute Page at Netshows
    http://netshowscommunity.ning.com/profile/XTCYOUTUBECOM ;

    1 year ago
  • KRYS vs. MUSIC

    CARRIAGE CLOCKS and WATCHES and SCRATCHES

    "All we hear is radio ga ga radio goo goo".  Queen had it absolutely right ....most radio is drivel.  Even 6 Music is populated by tedious DJs who love the sound of their own voices.  Should be called 6 Ga Ga Goo Goo!  For God's sake shut up and play music, dammit!  I also cannot listen to commercial stations ...it's the adverts you know!  Selling me carriage clocks I don't want.

    So, where does your audience hear your music?  Well, I can tell you that I have not heard one of your tunes on the radio for over 20 years!  But, Radio Gloucestershire played Sargeant Rock the other day (happy memories and great tune).   Tell me where I can hear your music (other than here), I'll listen and then if I really like it (by the way I already do), I'll buy it (and I already have). 

    You don't buy a watch before seeing it and then on getting it home, find out you don't like its face!  Please collaborate with your audience and not antagonise them.  I have just heard Kathleen Edwards new album at www.kathleenedwards.com/voyageur/ and I'm pretty sure that I will now buy it.      Beware the Law of Unintended Consequences!   ....Exhibit 'A', mi Lud ...digital rights management.  What an unmitigated disaster that was.

    Sorry, but I don't buy music that I have not heard.  Stupid, I know.  Tut!  And, my vinyl versions of your albums sound like a 78rpm played on a wind up gramophone.  Can I down load music that I already own?  I bought the music, not the scratches ...you can have those back if you want!

    1 year ago
  • Mark's Invi$ible Specta…


    Have quite the weekend.
     - Mark.

    1 year ago
  • Camera Shy

    Just listened to Earthlight and DameFortune. How different and utterly brilliant.
    Always a smile listening to your creations :)

    1 year ago
  • Spirits Of Another Day

    XTC: One of the best bands ever that wrote the best songs ever ! Peace from Sunny Detroit City <3

    1 year ago
  • Guy Darby

     Hey thanks for the add...hope you like the tracks :)

    Guy

    1 year ago
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