Xtc

XTC almost never wrote a sentimental song– which is strange, when you consider how much of their music deals with nostalgia, home and country, and yearning. Their lyrics are bittersweet and escapist, but even in the lost summers of Skylarking, they cling to some element– biting words, knuckle-cracking hooks, or just a distractingly loud arrangement– that keeps their most heartstring-pulling, young-love-eulogizing songs from drifting away. Which is why their 1999 release Apple Venus Vol. 1 is so much more complicated and concrete than a first impression suggests. That album, plus its 2000 counterpart Wasp Star (Apple Venus Vol. 2), came out after a break of seven years. In that time, Andy Partridge, Colin Moulding, and Dave Gregory– who formally left the band before these albums were released– walked out on Virgin, stayed home making demos, and came back with this pair of records on TVT. And five years and no further material later, XTC have packaged them together in the Apple Box, along with lyrics, liner notes, and two demos-and-outtakes albums.

Following Go 2, keyboardist Barry Andrews left XTC and, rather than finding a replacement keyboard player, the band opted to recruit another guitarist (who could also play keyboards), Dave Gregory. The album that followed the lineup change, Drums and Wires, marks a turning point for the band, with a more subdued set of songs that reflect an increasing songwriting proficiency…

XTC - Oranges & Lemons (1989) {CD+BLU-RAY Ape House The Surround Sound Series APEBD109 rel 2015}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 453 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 146 Mb
BLU-RAY -> 29.0 Gb | 1080p | DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 / LPCM 2.0 / 5.1 | 24-96 | ISO Image
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 67 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1989, 2015 Ape House / Virgin | APEBD109
Rock / New Wave / Alternative / Indie Rock

Oranges & Lemons is the third in a series of remixed and expanded XTC classics. The album has been mixed for 5. 1 Surround Sound from the original multi track studio master tapes by Steven Wilson with input from Andy Partridge and is fully approved by XTC. The CD features a completely new stereo album mix by Steven Wilson. Blu-ray (ALL Region) features a 5. 1 Surround mix in 24bit/96khz mixed from the original multi track tapes available in LPCM and DTS HD MA. Blu-ray features the new stereo album mix in 24bit/96khz LPCM audio. Blu-ray features flat transfer of the original stereo album mix in 24bit/96khz LPCM audio, instrumental versions of all new mixes in 24bit/96khz LPCM audio features two separate sets of demo and work tape sessions showing the evolution of the album and associated recordings, one set of pre-recording rehearsals, promos and id links for radio stations and record companies and a collection of single mixes and XTC's version of Capt. Beefheart's 'Ella Guru'.

XTC - Skylarking (1986) {CD+BLU-RAY Ape Records 30th Anniversary The Surround Sound Series APEBD108 rel 2016}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 390 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 149 Mb
BLU-RAY -> 23.4 Gb | 1080p | DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 / LPCM 2.0 / 5.1 | 24-96 | ISO Image
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 109 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1986, 2016 Ape House / Panegyric | APEBD108
Rock / New Wave / Alternative / Indie Rock

Features a CD + Blu-Ray Audio. For many music fans, this is THE classic XTC album, the one there was most demand for in remixed and 5. 1 surround and one of those for which the tapes, until recently, were thought lost. The album has been mixed for 5. 1 Surround Sound from the original multi-track studio master tapes by Steven Wilson with input from Andy Partridge and is fully approved by XTC. Features a 5. 1 Surround mix in 24-bit / 96-khz mixed from the original multi-track tapes available in LPCM and DTS HD MA. Additional Blu-ray features include: The new stereo album mix in 24-bit / 96-khz LPCM audio. Four additional songs from the album sessions in stereo and 5. 1 mixed by Steven Wilson. The original (uncorrected polarity) stereo album mix hi-res stereo + non-album track. The original (corrected polarity) stereo album mix in hi-res stereo. Instrumental versions (mixed by Steven Wilson) of all new mixes in 24bit/96khz LPCM audio.

XTC - Nonsuch (1992) {CD+BLU-RAY Ape Records The Surround Sound Series APEBD110 rel 2013}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 457 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 161 Mb
BLU-RAY -> 32.4 Gb | English DTS-HD MA 5.1 / English LPCM 24/96 | ISO Image
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 33 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1992, 2013 Geffen / Virgin / Ape Records | APEBD110
Rock / Alternative / Indie

A new edition of XTC’s classic 1992 album, the first in a series of XTC albums to get the deluxe remix treatment. Featuring new stereo and 5.1 surround sound mixes made from the original multitrack tapes by Steven Wilson. Also included is the original stereo mix, instrumental mixes, and other bonus material. SW produced the new mixes with the input of founder band member Andy Partridge and the full approval of the band.

XTC - Drums and Wires (1979) {CD+BLU-RAY Ape Records The Surround Sound Series APEBD103 rel 2014}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 446 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 156 Mb
BLU-RAY -> 31.0 Gb | 1080p | DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 / LPCM 2.0 / 5.1 | 24-96 | ISO Image
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 29 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1979, 2014 Ape House / Panegyric | APEBD103
Rock / New Wave / Alternative / Indie Rock

The revolutionary Drums And Wires, from 1979, is the second in a series of expanded XTC album reissues, including 5.1 Surround mixes, new stereo mixes and High-Resolution stereo mixes of the original material, along with a wealth of extra audio and visual material. All copies come with an exclusive postcard signed by Andy Partridge (while stocks last). Steven Wilson produced the mixes with the input of founder band member Andy Partridge and the full approval of the band. This cd/blu-ray edition is presented in special packaging with an expanded booklet and sleeve-notes by Andy Partridge, Colin Moulding and Dave Gregory.