What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Black Sea at 40 with Hugh Padgham and Dave Gregory Sep 04, 2020

Show notes

"I still think XTC are one of the best bands ever," says Hugh Padgham – and he should know: he's worked with everyone from David Bowie to Brian Wilson, Kate Bush and The Police. Having enjoyed his earliest successes as sound engineer on Drums and Wires and Black Sea, and co-producer on English Settlement, he says XTC continue to hold a special place in his heart.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Black Sea on 12 September 2020, Padgham joins guitarist Dave Gregory for a special 90-minute edition of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast. They talk about the clanking anvils of Towers of London, the one-note solo of Love at First Sight and the slow-build tension of No Language in Our Lungs. "We were always thinking progressively and pushing ourselves," says Gregory.

Questions about this landmark album come from Mark Fisher, David White and Mark Reed, with additional commentary from David Yazbek.

Further reading in The XTC Bumper Book of Fun for Boys and Girls and What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from https://www.xtclimelight.com

If you've enjoyed the XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher

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Andrew Swainson: Designs on XTC Aug 07, 2020

Show notes

Illustrator and graphic designer Andrew Swainson has been collaborating with Andy Partridge for over 20 years. As well as working on XTC and Dukes of Stratosphear re-releases, such as Skylarking and The Complete and Utter Dukes, he helped create the distinctive look of records including:

Powers, Partridge's tribute to abstract electronic artist Richard M Power, made to look like an early 60s paperback book
Warm Robot by Jen Olive, with its sci-fi fold-out sleeve
Gonwards, by Peter Blegvad and Andy Partridge, complete with Mexican-style loteria card game
Orpheus: The Lowdown, another Blegvad/Partridge collaboration, with its haunting X-ray imagery
Fuzzy Warbles, the gorgeous compendium of unreleased XTC rarities

In this episode, Swainson joins XTC fans Mark Fisher, Sarah Crookall, Laura Wade, David White and Peter Mills – not to mention a brief visit by Andy Partridge – to talk about his mesmerising designs.

More about Andrew Swainson at https://www.andrewswainson.com/

Remember to subscribe to What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast on your favourite podcast app – and please support future episodes by donating at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher

Treat yourself to The XTC Bumper Book of Fun for Boys and Girls and What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book, both available at https://www.xtclimelight.com

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Dave Gregory: Tunes of Good Jul 03, 2020

Show notes

Guitarist and keyboard player Dave Gregory talks about his contribution to the sound of XTC. In conversation with musician Hugh Nankivell, he reflects on the smell of guitars, playing an idolised instrument on Skylarking and the joy of making music with Colin Moulding and Andy Partridge. Recorded at home in Swindon in March 2018, the interview appears in full in What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from https://www.xtclimelight.com If you've enjoyed the XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher

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XTC vs Adam Ant (feat Andy Partridge) Jun 05, 2020

Show notes

Jordan Cooper of Don't Let's Start: A Podcast About They Might Be Giants joins Mark Fisher, Mark Reed and David White to talk about the connections between XTC, TMBG and Adam and the Ants. In a freewheeling conversation, they explore the head versus the heart, intellect versus instinct, and content versus form. Along the way, Andy Partridge drops by to share his opinions about Adam and the Ants and They Might Be Giants and remembers how XTC caught the eye of John Peel.

Thanks to the good people at Sodajerker for the KT Tunstall extract (listen to the full podcast here: https://www.sodajerker.com/episode-160-kt-tunstall/)

Support the podcast at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher and read about XTC in The XTC Bumper Book of Fun for Boys and Girls and What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available at www.xtclimelight.com

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Andy Partridge Everything'll Be Alright May 03, 2020

Show notes

To cheer us up during the Covid-19 lockdown, Andy Partridge pays a call to What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast with the promise that Everything'll Be Alright. He talks to author Mark Fisher with characteristic wit and candour about the power of XTC as a live band, the chords for Roads Girdle the Globe and how Yacht Dance was nearly a song about bees. Essential listening for every XTC fan, this episode will leave you Burning With Optimism's Flames. Please support at Patreon and check out Mark Fisher's books, The XTC Bumper Book of Fun for Boys and Girls and What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book.

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Breathing the Same Air with Andrew M Stafford Apr 10, 2020

Show notes

Author Andrew M Stafford talks about Breathing the Same Air, his memoir of his time with XTC during the making of The Big Express at Crescent Studios in Bath. Belinda Blanchard, who had her own brush with XTC when she starred in the video for Dear God, previews her performance at the XTC Convention 2020. Mark Fisher, Mark Reed and David White join in the chat – and Andy Partridge supplies the jingles. Support the podcast at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher

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Garden of Earthly Delights (feat Colin Moulding) Mar 05, 2020

Show notes

Giving a first listen to Garden of Earthly Delights: An XTC Celebration (Futureman Records), XTC fans Mark Fisher, David White and Mark Reed talk about:

Don't Lose Your Temper covered by Derrick Anderson
Your Dictionary covered by Mark McCrite
Life Begins at the Hop covered by the Kickstand Band
Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her covered by Casper Fandango & His Tiny Sick Tears
Runaways covered by I Think Like Midnight
We're All Light covered by Anton Barbeau
Battery Brides covered by Cinderpop
My Bird Performs covered by Myrtle Park's Fishing Club

Special guest Colin Moulding from XTC adds his thoughts about cover bands, My Bird Performs and X-Wires as covered by the Pop Up Book.

Futureman label boss Keith Klingensmith talks about putting the album together here: http://xtcbumperbookoffunforboysandgirls.blogspot.com/

The show is created by Mark Fisher, editor of The XTC Bumper Book of Fun for Boys and Girls and What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book – details here: https://www.xtclimelight.com

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