XTC "Drums & Wires" [200g + 7"]

Limited 200gm vinyl LP pressing plus bonus 7" single. Drums And Wires has been mastered by Jason Mitchell at LOUD mastering with input from Andy Partridge and is fully approved by XTC. Swindon's finest, XTC, produced an early classic album with the Steve Lillywhite produced Drums and Wires. Andy Partridge recalls it as an optimistic time for the band. Dave Gregory's arrival on guitar 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 and 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 and engineer Hugh Padgham's ability to give appropriate studio support and recording expertise to the more expansive pieces such as "Roads Girdle The Globe" and "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 and 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 (and international) hit single in album lead track "Making Plans for Nigel". The optimism of the recording sessions had proved justified.