Everyone talks about the amount of music The Clash recorded over a few years well XTC decided they could match this releasing two albums in 1978 before this one arrived in 1979.
Andy Partridge was always seen as the main man in XTC but bassist Colin Moulding was certainly no slouch in the songwriting department either and he wrote their first hit Making Plans for Nigel which opens this record, drums dominate over a minimal guitar but it is one of the most recognisable singles of the era to people of a certain age. Moulding really steps up here composing four of the twelve tracks with another stand out Ten Feet Tall we don’t have their usual quirky pop but a lovely restrained acoustic number.
Dave Gregory was in as second guitarist after the departure of keyboard player Barry Andrews as the band decided to go for a more guitar and big sounding drum record (hats off to Terry Chambers, what a drummer)and Gregory and Partridge go for a frenetic approach but this is XTC working out who they are and where they want to go as a band.
Helicopter is an onslaught from start to finish with manic singing from Partridge (I occasionally struggle with his vocals, Day In Day Out for example), surreal and I think, brilliant, or is it?
Roads Girdle the Globe I love the kick in twenty seconds in with a more band orientated vocal, although Partridge still dominates.
That is the Way brings in a flugelhorn player (I looked it up, I assumed it was a trumpet, says the non-musician) which takes a good song to a much higher level and in Outside World we have the most straightforward moment on the record showing they had not fully left their post punk sound just yet.
Complicated Game is minimal with Partridge whispering before Chambers comes in and then Partridge starts with the vocals again, it’s a good song I just wish he would tone it down a bit.
XTC got the respect but not the sales, but you can see from this album where they were going.
7/10
GIVE IT A STREAM: Making Plans for Nigel