Nonsuch

I've been listening to this beauty all day. If ever a band was made for 5.1 mixes then it is XTC. The multi layered complex tracks that these guy's make are stunning in normal stereo, but this 5.1 mix is astonishing. I own quite a few of these type of mixes but I have to say, this one may well be the very best of them all. Steve Wilson deserves all the accolades he will get for serving up this feast for the ears. It as been thought out so well. Nothing sounds cluttered and the placement is superb throughout. One minor difference from the original album is that 'The Disappointed' doesn't segue straight into 'Holly Up On Poppy', which in a way makes this version slightly better as one can listen to each track individually without the former ending abruptly or the latter crashing in. There are small odds & ends here and there that are different, but nothing that detracts from, what is, a brilliant album. The package overall is a lesson to many a label. The CD has the 'new' stereo album mix, without the segues as per the 5.1 mix, which means that those people who already own the original CD or Vinyl album are not buying the same thing again just to get the 5.1 mix, whilst the Blu Ray disc has, wait for it, the original stereo mix, the 'new' stereo mix, a 'new' instrumental mix, a 'new' 5.1 mix, well two of them actually, one in DTS - HD the over a standard 5.1 mix, plus (!) 23 Andy Partridge demos for the album including tracks that didn't make the cut, plus (!) 8 Colin Moulding demos, again with a few that missed out, plus (!) two promotional films AND 48 minutes of footage of the guy's working in the studios, all for under £17. The icing on the cake is that the whole set is sub labelled 'XTC - The Surround Sound Series' which tells us that this is obviously the first of a number of these releases. The very thought of having 'Skylarking' and all their other classics given the extra special treatment is enough to send any XTC fan to heaven.

A great re-issue for both contents and quality. The new mix available on the CD is great. One major difference from the original version is that songs do not crossfade into each other, which is a good thing as most of the cross-fades were peculiar to say the least.I don't know if it's because of the new mix but I have discovered that Wrapped In Grey is one of the greatest XTC songs and I had never realised that before. I think it would have flopped completely as a single (most XTC fans will know the story about this infamous single) but nevertheless it is really a jewel of a song.The BluRay disc is full of just about anything related to this album. New 5.1 and stereo mixes, original mix, instrumental versions, a massive amount of demos, two videos and about 50 minutes of footage showing XTC recording the album where we also learn that XTC were close to producing an album of Indian music (I am not going to say more on the matter but I can guarantee you will have a good laugh).The 5.1 mix on the BluRay disc is very nice, not gimmicky at all. I think Steve Wilson has been more adventurous in his approach to other 5.1 mixes but this one is really a pleasure to listen to.Nonsuch is not my favourite XTC album but this edition has definitely done a lot to improve my opinion of it. I just can't wait to listen to English Settlement and Skylarking in 5.1! Bring them on!Oh by the way, I am NOT Andy Partridge :)

A great 2-disc package from Andy Partridge's APE label. Those who are familiar with XTC's Nonsuch don't need me to tell them what a fantastic album it is, so feast upon the new remixes (by the talented Steve Wilson) on the first disc (a CD), and then enjoy the instrumental versions, a 5.1 Surround Sound version and another additional mix, the Virgin promo videos for The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead and The Disappointed, behind-the-scenes footage from the recording sessions at Chipping Norton and the myriad demos too, all on a second disc (a Blu-ray), plus extensive liner notes by Dave Gregory, Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding. All this for fourteen quid represents AMAZING value. Buy it and keep Mr. Partridge and the lads in business.

The others have already written about this. All I'd like to say on it is this is how any reissue should be done, the sound is just incredible and the 5.1 mix lets all the instruments breathe in a way they don't in stereo. Having bought reissues in 5.1 by Talking Heads and the Beach Boys, this blows them out the water.Hopefully it won't be too long till we get the other XTC albums this way. Personally I can't wait to hear Skylarking, English Settlement, Mummer. Hopefully, even the Dukes albums which would be mind blowing and the Apple Venus albums too! I just hope this isn't a series which doesn't see fulfilment due to lack of funds, interest etc.

Their tenth and last album for Virgin Records, this contains the classic singles The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead and The Dissapointed which Andy Partridge one the Ivor Novello Songwriting Award for.17 Superbly produced tracks of pastoral pop, but buy the Blu-Ray remastered/enhanced version for outtakes, demo versions, extra tracks and the 2 Music Videos.Very Highly Recommended, a great album.

Great album. Brilliant songs and lots of extras.

One if the best bands in the world. Songwriting and musicianship are outstanding. XTC do not get the global recognition they deserve. Andy Partridge is a genius.

Son excellent pour cet album magnifique digne du double blanc des Beatles avec des extra passionnants

This is an album that can easily match the best albums by The Beatles. Whichever album you buy, by XTC, you will not be dissapointed. This release, with all the extra's, is one not to be missed in any serious music collection.

Uno de sus discos más trabajados. Pierden cierta espontaneidad en beneficio de un sonido más cuidado. La edición con Bluray muy superior a cualquier edición anterior.

Beim lesen der Eclipsed bin ich auf XTC gestossen bei der Bewertung ihrer Platten. Dort las ich das Steven Wilson neue Surroundmixe einiger ihrer Veröffentlichungen angefertigt hat.Alles was er in 5.1 bisher fabriziert hat, egal ob seine eigenen Sachen oder für andere Bands stehen bei mir ganz weit oben was den Höhrgenuss betrifft. Obwohl ich einen breiten Musikgeschmack habe, ist XTC leider an mir vorbei gegangen.Aber höhrt euch das an ,das ist wirklich klasse musik. Einiges klingt beim ersten mal nicht so gelungen aber das wird mit jeden neuen höhren umso besser. Da gibt es wirklich spitzenhafte Melodien die bekommst du nicht mehr aus dem Kopf.Es ist wie mit den Beatles die mich vor vierzig Jahren ebenso begeistern konnnten.Die anderen drei XTC Surround Blueray kann ich ebenso als absolut gelungen empfehlen.

XTCの楽曲に対する好き嫌いはあると思うけど、Steven Wilsonが作ったサラウンドの出来はどのアルバムも素晴らしい。この一連のシリーズを揃えて真剣にXTCに向き合ったことで、彼らの楽曲の奥深さを知ることになりました。