Description:
"XTC live" has been an oxymoron ever since the band's stage-fright-stricken frontman, Andy Partridge, collapsed during a U.S. tour in 1982. Freed of the burden of touring and reproducing their material live, XTC spent their next five recordings gussying-up their sound--layering piano, strings, and ethereal harmonies where herky-jerky chord changes and caterwauling vocals used to reside. Transistor Blast is a heavy dose of early XTC, the Swindon, England, postpunk quartet who couldn't even spell "cello." Disc 3 features 1978 and '79 live takes of early singles such as "Life Begins at the Hop" and &q
"XTC live" has been an oxymoron ever since the band's stage-fright-stricken frontman, Andy Partridge, collapsed during a U.S. tour in 1982. Freed of the burden of touring and reproducing their material live, XTC spent their next five recordings gussying-up their sound--layering piano, strings, and ethereal harmonies where herky-jerky chord changes and caterwauling vocals used to reside. Transistor Blast is a heavy dose of early XTC, the Swindon, England, postpunk quartet who couldn't even spell "cello." Disc 3 features 1978 and '79 live takes of early singles such as "Life Begins at the Hop" and "This is Pop," as well as less-recognizable--and often less-listenable--album tracks along the lines of "Danceband" and "Neon Shuffle." Disc 4, a re-release of the band's legendary 1980 Hammersmith Palais show (previously only available as an import), best illustrates the dynamic, hyperkinetic live band that was once XTC. Discs 1 and 2 erect a bridge between the band's early and later material. Recorded live for BBC Radio, the 25 tracks are jumbled chronologically but still flow. Devoid of their elaborate arrangements and syrupy production, songs such as 1986's "Another Satellite" fit nicely after the likes of 1978's "I'm Bugged." --Bill Crandall
Album Description
51 unreleased tracks recorded between 1977-1989. The first two discs have 27 cuts from various Peel sessions cut for the BBC, including versions of 'Life Begins At The Hop', 'Ten Feet Tall', 'Runaways', 'Another Satellite', 'Making Plans For Nigel', 'Jason And The Argonauts' & 'Are You Receiving Me?'; the third has 12 songs taken from various concerts in 1978 & 1979; the fourth is 12 from their December 22nd, 1980 show at the Hammersmith Palais. Comes ina full color slipcase box with each CD in a color slimline jewel case. 1998 TVT Records release.
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Manufacturer: Tvt
Release date: 8 December 1998
EAN: 0016581324022 UPC: 016581324022
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