Wasp Star (Apple Venus, Pt. 2)

by XTC

Overview

Anyone expecting Wasp Star: Apple Venus, Vol. 2 to continue the majestic acoustic-orchestral blends of Apple Venus will be disappointed, because it's a straightforward collection of sharp, witty, well-constructed pop songs. Directness is perhaps the oddest thing about Wasp Star - it's unassuming pop from a band that operated on a conceptual plain for nearly 20 years. It could be argued that all the songs that fit a dark, introspective mood went to Apple Venus, XTC's first album after seven years in exile, while Wasp Star wound up as a clearinghouse for everything else. If that is true, it ignores a basic fact -- XTC's leftovers are better than most band's keepers. "Leftovers" isn't quite an accurate term, either. These songs are orphans, tunes without a particular project, which may mean that Wasp Star is an album of moments, but there's plenty to cherish here. Colin Moulding is in fine shape, with the spare "Boarded Up" and the clever "Standing in for Joe." Andy Partridge has a few tricks up his sleeve -- his compositions are heavy on electric guitars, he builds "Wounded Horse" around a blues riff, and "You and the Clouds Will Still Be Beautiful" is just about the breeziest thing he's ever written -- but for the most part, he's in pop craftsman mode, turning out expert, layered tunes that may not push his talents but certainly exploit his capabilities to their fullest. After all, most pop bands would give their eyeteeth to have songs as smart, melodic, and memorable as "Playground," "Stupidly Happy," "My Brown Guitar" and "I'm the Man Who Murdered Love" as their orphans -- and if these constitute an average XTC album, that's a testament to what a terrific band they are. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	09/28/2018
Label:	Ape House Ltd.
UPC:	0633367789310
Rank:	39717

Tracks

1. Playground
2. Stupidly Happy
3. In Another Life
4. My Brown Guitar
5. Boarded Up
6. I'm the Man Who Murdered Love
7. We're All Light
8. Standing in for Joe
9. Wounded Horse
10. You and the Clouds Will Still Be Beautiful
11. Church of Women
12. The Wheel and the Maypole

Album Credits

Performance Credits

XTC   Primary Artist
Peter Lale   Viola
Patrick Kiernan   Violin
Andy Partridge   Guitar,Vocals
Caroline Dale   Cello
Colin Moulding   Bass,Vocals
Chuck Sabo   Drums
Kate St. John   Oboe
Nick Davis   Keyboards
Prairie Prince   Drums
Simon Gardner   Flugelhorn
Gavyn Wright   Violin

Technical Credits

Simon Dawson   Mixing Engineer
Andy Partridge   Composer
Bob Ludwig   Mastering
Colin Moulding   Composer
Barry Hammond   Engineer
Nick Davis   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Haydn Bendall   Engineer
Pete Ashworth   Photography
Steve Gullick   Portrait Photography
Andrew Swainson   Sleeve Art