Rock  International
XTC Drums & Wires (CD/Blu-Ray) APEBD103 CD/BluRay
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FormatAudio CD / BluRay Disc
Ordering NumberAPEBD103
Barcode0633367784025
labelApe House
Release date05/05/2017
salesrank1788
Players/ContributorsMusicians

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      Description hide

      1977 may have been Year Zero for Punk Rock & accompanying newspaper headlines of horror but it produced few memorable albums from the new generation. 1979, by comparison, produced a shelf load of vinyl wonders with LP debuts from the likes of Gang of Four, Joy Division, The Specials & Human League, second offerings from PIL (Metal Box) & Magazine (Secondhand Daylight) & - dispelling the myth about “difficult” third albums - Wire (154), Talking Heads (Fear of Music), Elvis Costello (Armed Forces) & Japan (Quiet Life) issued respectively consistent, sure-footed, albums. Amidst this splendid flowering of the post-punk community, replete with the sort of musical diversity that would have been unimaginable two years earlier & sadly unthinkable today, Swindon’s finest, XTC, also produced an early classic album with the Steve Lillywhite produced Drums & Wires. Andy Partridge recalls it as an optimistic time for the band. Dave Gregory’s arrival on guitar (replacing organist Barry Andrews who left following the release of Go2) marked a shift in style with the group now configured as a twin guitar/bass/drums line-up. Despite an endless touring schedule much time was spent honing new material. Both Partridge & Colin Moulding were growing in confidence as songwriters – this album did much to further their reputation for peerless post-punk pop tunes. But it was also Steve Lillywhite & engineer Hugh Padgham’s ability to give appropriate studio support & recording expertise to the more expansive pieces such as “Roads Girdle The Globe” & “Complicated Game” that helped to bring a new level of maturity to the overall feel of the release. Issued at the start of September, Drums & Wires entered the UK Albums Chart where it remained for a total of seven weeks, accompanied by another first for the band, a Top 20 UK (& international) hit single in album lead track “Making Plans for Nigel”. The optimism of the recording sessions had proved justified.

      35 years later, Steven Wilson has mixed the album in a new stereo edition (featured on both CD & Hi-Res disc formats) & in 5.1 Surround Sound, bringing a fresh aural perspective to one of 1979’s most memorable albums. Several other tracks have also been mixed afresh & appear in both stereo & 5.1, including both sides of the single that was included with initial copies of the original vinyl LP, non-album single releases & b sides. The original album mix is also included in High-Resolution stereo. The Blu-Ray edition also includes the DJM mixes – songs earmarked as potential single releases, videos for singles “Making Plans for Nigel” & “Life Begins at the Hop” & 5 full demo sessions tracking the complete evolution of the album – a virtual boxed set on a single Blu-Ray disc.

      For those already familiar with the album this release provides a fully renewed and expanded edition of a much loved album. For anyone fortunate enough to be new to the album, yes, pop music really was this good at one point in time. It was even reasonably popular.

      Tracklist hide




      CD/BluRay 1
      • 1.Making Plans For Nigel04:17
      • 2.Helicopter03:58
      • 3.Day In Day Out03:06
      • 4.When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty03:23
      • 5.Ten Feet Tall03:16
      • 6.Roads Girdle the Globe04:49
      • 7.Real by Reel03:50
      • 8.Millions05:38
      • 9.That is the Way02:57
      • 10.Outside World02:40
      • 11.Scissor Man04:01
      • 12.Complicated Game05:04
      • 13.Chain of Command02:42
      • 14.Limelight02:32
      • 15.Life Begins at the Hop03:46
      • 16.Homo Safari02:14
      • 17.Ten Feet Tall (Electric Version)03:15
      • 18.Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down04:42
      • Total:01:06:10
      CD/BluRay 2
      • Presented in LPCM Audio
        • 1.Album mixed in 5.1 Surround
        • 2.New Stereo Album mix
        • 3.Original Stereo Album mix
        • 4.Blu-Ray exclusive material including: Numerous additional stereo & 5.1 tracks, new stereo album instrumental mixes, 5 demos sessions & promo films for the singles