XTC | English Settlement | Album

XTC "English Settlement" (1982)

LP (NEW) - Vinyl, Ape House, Europe, 2019, APELPX105, 633367790910, 2xLP, 200g Vinyl, Original Masters, Printed Inner Sleeves

English Settlement is the Fifth studio album by English new-wave/art-pop maestros XTC, released in 1982. With 72 minutes of music, this double album is chock-full of brilliant songs written by the very clever Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding. Lyrically, English Settlement is XTC at their most socially conscious. It's a snapshot of Britain in the early 1980s where fears included the routine knocking down of buildings ("Ball And Chain"), technological developments displacing people in the labour market ("Leisure") and the growing influence of the racist right ("No Thugs In Our House"). Lyrics are definitely an important marker in the band's transition from pop group to studio wizards. The most revelatory thing about English Settlement, however, is the variety. There's a touch of jangle in place of the more familiar spikiness, with the Spanish guitar on "Yacht Dance" bringing an unprecedented degree of softness to XTC's sonic palette. That jangle also ushers in Colin's opener in a manner which makes it clear that this is not going to be the all-out aural assault that Black Sea was. "It's Nearly Africa" sees the band embracing rhythms a little south of Swindon, while "Melt The Guns" even finds Andy doing something which might be described as "rapping". Oh, and for those who like their XTC to snap, crackle and pop there's the small matter of "Senses Working Overtime", the band's only top ten single and a bona fide classic.

Artist Website: chalkhills.org

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