Black Sea - XTC
Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 7:55 amXTC is a curious group: a British band deftly adept at crafting clever melodies, wonderfully astute musicianship, and gorgeous production values yet they have always remained far below the radar of mass appeal. Similar in nature to The Beatles, a clear progression marks their work from their early punk/pop releases to their somewhat mellowed and mature current work. Led by guitarist Andy Partridge (Lennon, right down to the round glasses and snide commentary) and bassist Colin Moulding (McCartney’s fluid bass work and catchy, upbeat songs) XTC’s catalog is a wealth of wide-ranging music covering punk, ambient, psychedelic, rock, pop, folk, you name it. Among their many creative zeniths comes the pop rock masterpiece, BLACK SEA.
Released in September of 1980, the sonic explosion called BLACK SEA made its’ debut. From the opening crackling record of “Respectable Street” to the nihilistic doom wash of “Travels In Nihilon” BLACK SEA is adventurous and covers a lot of ground. Partridge named this record to convey a sense of a large foreboding landscape. Indeed, as produced by Steve Lilywhite, the record has a huge expansive sound and would make an excellent choice when shopping for new stereo speakers. Crystalline and clear, BLACK SEA is very pleasing to the ear. What gives it additional great depth are the fantastic song melodies, lyrics and arrangements. The pacing of the record is also sensational, with songs literally merging from one to the next. The only criticism of song pacing is on the updated cd version, with the addition of bonus materials (tracks 7,8,9) that were inexplicably inserted into the middle of the original perfect song cycle. Program your cd player to omit these three songs and you have BLACK SEA in its’ original perfect form.
The songs themselves are as varied as XTC’s career. “Respectable Street” has a snarl to it, as discordant guitar riffing opens the song followed by the propulsive rhythm section and finally to Partridge’s distinctively melodic growl. Colin Moulding’s buoyant “Generals And Majors” is perhaps the catchiest pop song on the set. The punk/reggae feel of “Living Through Another Cuba” allows Partridge to muse on the political landscape of the time. Another very catchy pop song in Moulding’s “Love At First Site” will have you singing along. A gorgeous, romantically uplifting rock song comes in the form of “Rocket From A Bottle”, one of Partridge’s most beautiful songs. “No Language In Our Lungs” is simply staggering in its’ expansive scope. “Towers Of London” is regal, clever and (once again) larger-than-life in scope. “Paper And Iron” has the trademark XTC sound: multiple genre stylings impossibly merged into one song. “Burning With Optimism’s Flames” has the classic Partridge attention to lyrical and poetic detail while the band churns away in amazing unison. “Sgt. Rock” is perhaps the weakest track, almost a throwaway, yet it still follows the formula of catchy inventive rock. BLACK SEA ends with “Travels In Nihilon”, a bleak and desolate (and somewhat difficult) song that perfectly puts a bookend on one of rock and roll’s most amazing records.
Nearly a quarter century after its’ release, BLACK SEA continues to reward repeated listenings. The dense sonic nature of the record offers wonderful hidden surprises in the mix and the songs themselves have a timeless quality. If you don't quite "get it" on the first spin, play it a few times and I guarantee the songs will eventually sink in. Black Sea is one of rock and roll’s true hidden treasures.
Other XTC items to consider include:
· CHIPS FROM THE CHOCOLATE FIREBALL…a tremendous ode to the psychedelic pop era covering an astute homage to The Hollies, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, (among many many others) in the guise of their alter-ego band The Dukes Of Stratosphear. Clever, catchy, hilarious, and loving; this is not to be missed.
· SKYLARKING…another set of catchy songs and noted for the Todd Rundgren production and Abbey Road-esque song cycles. As usual, the production values are superb.
· ENGLISH SETTLEMENT…originally released as a two-record set, another cd of surprising variety, depth and musicianship.
You really can’t go wrong with any of XTC’s numerous releases, but these would be a great starting point for the uninitiated.
Released in September of 1980, the sonic explosion called BLACK SEA made its’ debut. From the opening crackling record of “Respectable Street” to the nihilistic doom wash of “Travels In Nihilon” BLACK SEA is adventurous and covers a lot of ground. Partridge named this record to convey a sense of a large foreboding landscape. Indeed, as produced by Steve Lilywhite, the record has a huge expansive sound and would make an excellent choice when shopping for new stereo speakers. Crystalline and clear, BLACK SEA is very pleasing to the ear. What gives it additional great depth are the fantastic song melodies, lyrics and arrangements. The pacing of the record is also sensational, with songs literally merging from one to the next. The only criticism of song pacing is on the updated cd version, with the addition of bonus materials (tracks 7,8,9) that were inexplicably inserted into the middle of the original perfect song cycle. Program your cd player to omit these three songs and you have BLACK SEA in its’ original perfect form.
The songs themselves are as varied as XTC’s career. “Respectable Street” has a snarl to it, as discordant guitar riffing opens the song followed by the propulsive rhythm section and finally to Partridge’s distinctively melodic growl. Colin Moulding’s buoyant “Generals And Majors” is perhaps the catchiest pop song on the set. The punk/reggae feel of “Living Through Another Cuba” allows Partridge to muse on the political landscape of the time. Another very catchy pop song in Moulding’s “Love At First Site” will have you singing along. A gorgeous, romantically uplifting rock song comes in the form of “Rocket From A Bottle”, one of Partridge’s most beautiful songs. “No Language In Our Lungs” is simply staggering in its’ expansive scope. “Towers Of London” is regal, clever and (once again) larger-than-life in scope. “Paper And Iron” has the trademark XTC sound: multiple genre stylings impossibly merged into one song. “Burning With Optimism’s Flames” has the classic Partridge attention to lyrical and poetic detail while the band churns away in amazing unison. “Sgt. Rock” is perhaps the weakest track, almost a throwaway, yet it still follows the formula of catchy inventive rock. BLACK SEA ends with “Travels In Nihilon”, a bleak and desolate (and somewhat difficult) song that perfectly puts a bookend on one of rock and roll’s most amazing records.
Nearly a quarter century after its’ release, BLACK SEA continues to reward repeated listenings. The dense sonic nature of the record offers wonderful hidden surprises in the mix and the songs themselves have a timeless quality. If you don't quite "get it" on the first spin, play it a few times and I guarantee the songs will eventually sink in. Black Sea is one of rock and roll’s true hidden treasures.
Other XTC items to consider include:
· CHIPS FROM THE CHOCOLATE FIREBALL…a tremendous ode to the psychedelic pop era covering an astute homage to The Hollies, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, (among many many others) in the guise of their alter-ego band The Dukes Of Stratosphear. Clever, catchy, hilarious, and loving; this is not to be missed.
· SKYLARKING…another set of catchy songs and noted for the Todd Rundgren production and Abbey Road-esque song cycles. As usual, the production values are superb.
· ENGLISH SETTLEMENT…originally released as a two-record set, another cd of surprising variety, depth and musicianship.
You really can’t go wrong with any of XTC’s numerous releases, but these would be a great starting point for the uninitiated.