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XTC: The Complete And Utter Dukes


11/06/2009
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(Howlin' Wuelf) The Complete And Utter Dukes is a special LIMITED edition release of XTC's pseudonymous output as "The Dukes of Stratosphear" being released domestically November 30 on XTC mainman Andy Partridge's Ape House label, distributed by ADA.

This LIMITED EDITION purple cloth-covered box set completes even the completist's collection with everything the Dukes ever recorded presented in a variety of formats.

This includes the vinyl versions of 25 O'Clock and Psonic Psunspot are faithful to the original in their content and were remastered especially for these vinyl pressings. Both come in gatefold sleeves and newly designed inner bags. There's also a 7 inch single featuring Andy Partridge's "Tin Toy Clockwork Train," a track written for a psychedelic Euro Star ad campaign and Colin Moulding's demo of "The Affiliated."

You also get both 25 O'Clock and Psonic Psunspot are on separate CDs, again, having been completely remastered from the original analogue tapes, with generous bonus material and packaged in hardback books.

There is a "puzzle" that is exactly that: a psyched-out, mindbendingly difficult jigsaw.

You'll also find the Dukes $US dollars, psychedelic sheckles, one of which can be redeemed for an EXCLUSIVE Dukes T Shirt.

XTC were a band well known for expanding into new areas and making sonic leaps, so in the mid-80's when the fancy came over them to make some records that sounded like they were waxed in 1967, they simply did just that. As an added fun element they decided to release them under the pseudonym, "THE DUKES OF STRATOSPHEAR."

XTC were going to party. From the age of 13, frontman Andy Partridge had wanted to make psychedelic records just like the one he'd heard on the radio, and even after a gap of 18 years that desire still burned bright. Finding themselves with a few weeks on their hands and the services of legendary producer John Leckie at their disposal, they set about the colourful task of working on a big thankyou to all the bands who made their school years sound so vibrant.

Under their 'nom-de-psyches' of Sir John Johns, Lord Cornelius Plum, Red Curtain and E.I.E.I.Owen they managed to summon up the spirits of Syds Pink Floyd, the Beatles, the Hollies, Move, Byrds, Prunes and a score of other 67 psyche artists SO CLOSELY that several reviewers have suggested that they bettered the originals!

If your idea of a good sonic Xerox starts and ends with the Rutles, you'll need to think again. The Dukes are the most fun your ears can have.



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