Disco de XTC: “Drums and Wires [2002 US Reissue]”

For those who have listened to XTC's later work (Skylarking, Nonsuch, Apple Venus) this work must seem to come from another band, indeed another planet. The band has spent the last 17 years, it seems, perfecting its Beatles imitation. Now it's time to see where they started. While XTC's first two albums (White Music and Go2) seemed hell-bent on destroying every pop convention and stretching the listener's ear to the breaking point, Drums and Wires is the band's first real attempt to construct a new sound out of the ruins of pop cliché they laid around them. Manic, frenzied beats and sharp, jangling chords give the album not only its name but its feel. Drummer Terry Chambers makes his presence felt from the opening riff of Nigel. His complicated rythyms intertwine with the instruments with precision. This album proves the loss suffered when he wandered off 4 years later to be replaced by session drummers. None of the songs after his departure had the same kick in the teeth. In many ways this album represents the best and worst of XTC. Andy Partidge's odd voice is deliberately strangely ennunciated. The lyrics disturbing, but show unique wit. "Now she's away from Convent, she's grown wild. She's growm from a nice young lady to a child." "When you wake up sticky in the morning, you'll find out an important piece is gone." But for anyone who has a fondness for '80s music, this '79 album is an absolute must. Anyone who has Adam Ant, Oingo Boingo, early Police, English Beat or Devo and not this album in their collection also has a big, gaping hole.

This was the first effort I ever heard by XTC. A local new-wave station was playing "Helicopter" and "Making Plans For Nigel" and I just had to have this. I was in no way disappointed. Still sounds fresh to me today. To me this was thier first great effort, with many more classics to come.

Clearly, this is the best work from XTC. First heard this in 1982 and had to get the CD to replace my worn out Album. People in this review have pointed out the song "Complicated Game" as unfitting. I feel completely opposite of that. Actually, one of the best songs written by this band, that and "Scissor Man" make this album a must. If you can only own 1 XTC album, this is it. It is the core of the band's sound. Everything after that pales in comparison. Excellent Intellegence.

Drums and Wires is an exciting, eccentric album full of pounding riddims and jangling guitars. Only XTC could have made this recording. The goofy music belies the messages of love, paranoia, futility, and caution in the lyrics. A brilliant lead-in to 1980's masterpiece, Black Sea.

[DW]

The departure of quirky keyboardist Barry Andrews after only two XTC albums, may have signalled the early death knell of the band. Andrews improvised and manic approach had been one of XTC's unique claims. But the arrival of guitarist and multi instrumentalist Dave Gregory for their third album "Drums and Wires" in fact had a liberating effect on the band. XTC's sound began to broaden and harden with his arrival and the song writing moved from the juvenilia of comic books and science-fiction to socio/cultural topics such as job opportunities, surveillance culture and environmental issues to name but three. The social satire reaches its peak on the hypnotic, persuasive and majestic lead single "Making Plans For Nigel". XTC's first major UK hit and the beginning of a dominant song writing spell for bassist Colin Moulding that would eventually lead to his own solo project. Moulding also pens the delightfully breezy and spacious "Ten Feet Tall", a single Virgin believed would break the band in the US. Partridge's song writing also excels, but his compositions at this time still remain quirky, experimental and at times awkward. Nevertheless "Reel by Real" hints at the very commercial songs that were too follow from Partridge. The album has a beautifully sparse production quality thanks to Steve Lillywhite and with its distinctive cover design helped it become their biggest selling record up to that point and one of their most cohesive and enjoyable recordings.

This digitally re-mastered version presents the album in its best sound quality to date and also includes three bonus tracks in the shape of "Life Begins at the Hop", "Chain of Command" and "Limelight", the latter two tracks are especially precious little gems and are presented for the first time re-mastered and sounding great.