After the total commercial failure of their last two albums (Mummer and The Big Express), XTC decided to try their hand at something a little different. Assuming the name The Dukes of Stratosphear and various different pseudonyms for themselves (Andy Partridge became Sir John Johns, Colin Moulding morphed into The Red Curtain, Dave Gregory became Lord Cornelius Plum, and temporary member Ian Gregory adopted the name E-I-E-I Owen), the band set out to create an EP of songs based on the music of the 60s which they had grown up listening to.
It sounds like a fairly simple concept, however the songs that resulted from the project are superb and created with a great deal of love and respect for the artists they are inspired by. It's a lot more expert than a simple "Let's pretend to be the Beatles" sort of thing. Right down to muffled samples, backward sounds, hidden whispers, and specific chords, each song is crammed full of references to bands of that glorious era.
(Year of Release: 1985)
Track List:
1. 25 O'Clock
2. Bike Ride to the Moon
3. My Love Explodes
4. What In the World?
5. Your Gold Dress
6. The Mole From the Ministry
Download: Dukes of Stratosphear - 25 O'Clock (38.3MB)
3 comments:
D/L now
I remember this coming out, but at the time I didn't really like XTC that much, so pretty much turned my nose up
But as time has gone on, I realise I should give this a fair go, so I am
Thanks for the chance to do so
It is rather interesting for me to read this article. Thanks for it. I like such themes and everything that is connected to them. I definitely want to read more soon.
Extractions from the Chocolate Fireball (left/center/right extractions)
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=Y5EP088H
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