At the start of this month, we donned some paisley-patterned clobber, poured ourselves a strong cup of tea, and took a look at the 25 O’Clock EP by XTC’s alter ego, The Dukes of Stratosphear (you can read it HERE).
Today as it celebrates its 34th anniversary, we’re dipping in to the last album released before the band went on strike against their label, Virgin. And indeed, their last album with Virgin – 1992’s Nonsuch.
Produced by Gus Dudgeon and with Fairport Convention’s Dave Mattacks on drums, Nonsuch was a double album of 17 tracks, including one which was nominated for an Ivor Novello. The album itself reached no. 28 in the UK album charts (the same placing as Oranges and Lemons, three years prior) and the Top 40 in Sweden. Three singles were released from the album: The Disappointed, The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead and, in the US only, Dear Madam Barnum.
Cover Design: I have the red and gold cover on vinyl – which makes me think of Christmas – but I’ve also seen a cover which replaces the gold with white. An intricately-drawn picture of Nonsuch Palace, a real-life Tudor building (now sadly gone) fills the front of the double-album. It was certainly a change of look from their previous release, Oranges and Lemons, with its psychedelic, Milton-Glaser inspired artwork.
The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead (Partridge)
The sound of Dave Gregory plugging in his guitar kicks off this opening track inspired by a rotting pumpkin Andy Partridge had carved for Hallowe’en. What a start to the era with this banger of a radio-friendly pop-rock song. Not sure why the makers of Dumb and Dumber didn’t just use this version on the soundtrack instead of using the Crash Test Dummies cover. Through The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead Andy Partridge reflects on something more relevant now than ever, how the “good” (Peter Pumpkinhead) who spread wisdom and help the poor, end up being crucified by “those who would keep us on our knees.” I think the world needs a lot more Peter Pumpkinheads right now – though without the nailing to a plank of wood part. The song was the second to be released as a single and reached no. 71 in the UK.
Lyrics: Peter Pumpkinhead came to town / Spreading wisdom and cash around / Fed the starving and housed the poor / Showed the Vatican what gold’s for
My Bird Performs (Moulding)
Well, Colin Moulding is off to a good start with this lovely, folksy track. There’s a nice choice of instrumentation in My Bird Performs which gives it a bit of variety, and his vocals sound excellent here. I can’t fault anything about the song, at all. Nor do I want to. My favourite Colin track on the album? Quite possibly.
Lyrics: Fine art never moved my soul / No vintage wine and designer clothes / But my world shakes for me / My bird performs sweetly
Dear Madam Barnum (Partridge)
I love the “Hey, Hey” intro to this circus-themed, upbeat-sounding song and the bark of the ring-master (a cameo by producer Gus Dudgeon). But sounds can be deceptive. The lyrics relate to a relationship and the narrator is no longer putting up with being ridiculed like a clown. Andy was going through a divorce around this time, which is reflected in many of his songs on Nonsuch. Swindon duo, Walnut Love, do a lovely cover of this.
Lyrics: You tread the high wire / Between truth and lies / Your safety net just walked out / Much to your surprise
Humble Daisy (Partridge)
I like the sparseness of the music in the opening verse, before the subtle build-up of instrumentation and some lovely backing vocal work. As the band matured so their desire to hide their influences began to crumble. In my mind, Humble Daisy has a mid-sixties McCartney tone in places that has echoes of Rubber Soul and Revolver.
Lyrics: Humble Daisy / Form a chain to hold all battleships in check / Humble Daisy / Knit a ladder down to nature’s sunken wreck
The Smartest Monkeys (Moulding)
I wonder if this was considered as a single at any point, as I think it had potential. Maybe with a slight remix it could have been. However, it did appear as the B-side to The Disappointed. I love the rhythm of the chorus, and the instrumental break has an interesting sound to it.
Lyrics: Well, man discovered the park bench can make a transition / And the rubbish tip makes a valid form of nutrition / With discoveries like these, civilisation agrees / To give itself a pat on the back
The Disappointed (Partridge)
Every time I hear this song, I think of Andy’s mardy face in the official music video. As he mentioned in the excellent book, Complicated Game, he really was disappointed during the filming – another instance where the band had no creative control. However, I’m sure he was more impressed when the song both hit the charts and was nominated for an Ivor Novello award. It’s a gorgeous song with a slight swing in its sound, and another track which I find absolutely no fault with – other than it not winning that award. This was released on 23 March 1992 and peaked at no. 33 in the UK – their best position since their Top Ten hit, Senses Working Overtime, a decade before.
Lyrics: Once, I had no sympathy / For those destroyed and thrown away by love / Seems your ring upon my finger / Signifies that I’ve become the spokesman of…
Holly up on Poppy (Partridge)
Written with his first-born, Holly, in mind, this is a sweet tune about the love a father has for his daughter (Poppy being her horse). This has a lovely, restrained use of an organ/keyboard which another song on this album could have taken notes on (I’m looking at you, Bungalow). Holly Partridge has followed in her dad’s footsteps and is a music artist in her own right. She also duetted with Andy on Unwrap You At Christmas, taken from his My Failed Christmas Career, Volume 1 EP.
Lyrics: Holly up on Poppy / Canter never stop / She has escaped from the world / Where they bake beautiful girls
Crocodile (Partridge)
A song with bite (thank you, I’m here all week). Despite its twangy, country sound in the verses, I actually really like Crocodile. I love that whiny lead guitar sound in the pre-chorus, and the snarl with which Andy sings in places. I never knew that being jealous was likened to a crocodile, though? Or is this just an Andy-ism?
Lyrics: But there’s one emotion I’m afraid of / Hear him scratching gently to be fed / I can’t stand it when he sits there smiling / I don’t want him nesting in my head
Rook (Partridge)
I’ve used the term before with XTC songs but Rook simply is a stunningly beautiful song, based around the concept of death and knowing when our time is up. It begins with some wonderful piano-playing throughout from Dave, and incorporates strings and brass in a really effective way. In a way, the musical choices here act as a nod towards the sound fans could expect from XTC with their next studio album, Apple Venus Volume 1, which was still seven years away.
Lyrics: On the wings of night, I fly too above field and stream / My head bursting with knowledge ‘til I wake from the dream
Omnibus (Partridge)
Or the one where Andy sings about what the thoughts of women of different ethnicities does to him. Musically, there’s a lot going on. I do like the inclusion of the trumpet here, and the ascending vocal melody in the verses.
Lyrics: Don’t let horses pass you by / Take a run and leap on / Pull the blinkers from your eyes / Before big bus has gone
That Wave (Partridge)
This is one of two songs on the album I tend to skip sometimes. So for this post, I slapped my hand away when it tried to reach for the >| button. Having listened to it properly, it’s a decent song but not a favourite. For me, it’s not particularly memorable compared to other songs here. However, Dave (I’m assuming it’s him) does do a cracking guitar solo on this.
Lyrics: I was in heaven / Address, cloud eleven / They danced and laughed / Spelling all I fell into was love
Then She Appeared (Partridge)
The backing vocals on this album are absolutely lovely, and this track is no exception. A gorgeous love song which I’m surprised wasn’t a single – though it does share some similarities with The Disappointed. There’s traces of the Beatles influence here, too. The lyrics also include what would become the title of their next album, the aforementioned Apple Venus.
Lyrics: And the moon which formerly shone / On the marbled midnight mile / Suddenly just packed its bags / Now shines from her bright smile
War Dance (Moulding)
I’m not sure if the comparison has been made before, but War Dance always makes me think of The Beautiful South. Imagine Paul Heaton or Dave Hemingway singing this and you’ll see what I mean. I’m aware it’s not a fan favourite but I do find myself bopping to it – I’m not too keen on the synth clarinet, though. War Dance was the B-side to The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead.
Lyrics: And they’re resurrecting Churchill / And bringing national service back / Fueling power and glory fever / Makes for a sicker Union Jack
Wrapped in Grey (Partridge)
The hit single that never was. There’s many mysteries in the world, and ‘why the hell did Virgin withdraw this?’ is up there near the top. Wrapped In Grey is such a beautiful, beautiful song (repetition intentional). It just gets me every time. I don’t have any tattoos (I’d get too bored of their position and want to move them all the time – I’m restless that way) but if I was to ever get one, it would be the lyrics “Awaken you dreamers…”. Maybe one day. If the only XTC song you’d heard previously was something like Neon Shuffle, you’d never think this was the same singer, never mind the same band. I’m glad Andy found his singing voice, it sounds absolutely gorgeous here.
Although I think this is an autumnal song, the inclusion of sleigh-bells make it Christmassy in my book, so I genuinely think all us fans should stream the living arse out of Wrapped in Grey near Christmas and try to get it flirting with at least one of the various charts out there. Who’s with me?
Lyrics: Awaken you dreamers / Adrift in your beds / Balloons and streamers / Decorate the inside of your heads / Please let some out, do it today / But don’t let the loveless ones sell you a world wrapped in grey
The Ugly Underneath (Partridge)
The closest thing to Andy rapping that we’re going to get (though Black Sea has a track that might want to contest that). Some lovely Hammond organ work from Dave in the chorus and outro.
Lyrics: The thing with politicians is I wouldn’t have suspicions / If I saw their worst positions and their ugly underneath / But after all the voting, suck away the sugar coating / Now they’ve had you and they’re gloating, boy, it’s ugly underneath
Bungalow (Moulding)
Oh Bungalow. There’s a nice little song in there trying to get out, I’m sure. I have no issue with the lyrics, it’s the music side of things I’m not loving. Specifically that synth sound. It’s just too forward in the mix at the beginning, and affects the song in a negative way, for me. The song improves later on, though, with the synth not so overpowering.
Lyrics: Luxury accommodation traps the sun / So we’re working every hour that God made / So we can fly away / Saving it all up for you
Books are Burning (Partridge)
And finally we come to Books are Burning, the album closer. I think I would have ended with something hopeful and a call-to-arms like Wrapped in Grey. But to the song itself, again one that I don’t always listen to all the way through. But it does feature a grand guitar solo (see below). The lads chose to perform this track during the closing credits of BBC 2’s The Late Show (the host, Kirsty Wark, unfortunately managed to get the title of the song wrong when introducing them). I think this performance was the first live one the band had done in the UK since the early 1980s.
Lyrics: Books are burning in the main square / And I saw there the fire eating the text / Books are burning in the still air / And you know where they burn books, people are next
Next time it’s the turn of the band’s final (for now… hey, I’m ever the optimist!) studio album, Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2) to be in the spotlight as it reaches its 26th year.
If this is your first XTC anniversary post, then you can find the first in the series here.
If you haven’t yet, consider getting onto Bluesky so you can join in with the monthly XTC listening parties there. We’re listening to every XTC and Dukes studio albums chronologically, and this month it’s the turn of Black Sea.
Links
Buy Nonsuch from Burning Shed
