XTC - 45 (Vol. 1)

A compilation celebrating XTC’S explosive run of singles between 1977 to 1980.

Bringing together the A-sides from the band’s first, fiercely inventive years (including the US A-side version of ‘ten feet tall’ and Soundtrack Rarity ‘Take this town’), the collection captures XTC in an era where many new bands would have sacrificed future first-borns to have one decent songwriter. Yet this run of singles made It abundantly obvious that XTC Contained two – in Colin Moulding and Andy Partridge.

Punk and its assorted brethren from new wave to DIY electronica, mod, ska revivals and more sub-genres shared one vital element in common It was, for a brief few years, to re-establish the primacy of the 7” single.

While XTC is, rightly, now remembered more for the consistent brilliance of its albums output, its commitment to the notion that every single should be an event: Solid catchy A side, equally inventive (if sometimes more experimental) B side and artwork given as much attention as an album. This made all of their singles, the hits and the non-hits alike, one of the most distinguished catalogues of the 7” artform