XTC and Steve Wilson's next release tease?

Well, it seems to rule out the Dukes...

 

We know that Wilson has been working on another XTC release, but I'm confident this isn't it. There's no indication that the latest tweets relate to an archival release of XTC material. There are a couple of letters partially visible at the bottom of one of the images.

APE isn't exclusively for Partridge projects, so this may well relate to a different artist that Andy simply enjoys, or maybe he produced the album. Not quite enough information to say, but I wouldn't put down money on the wager that it's English Settlement with a new cover.

 

This is weird. They're explicitly referencing XTC songs now, from two different albums, neither of which has been released in the surround series.

APE HOUSE on Twitter

 

All aboard The Big Express...

 

Maybe a combined Mummer / Big Express release similar to what Steve did with the first 3 Gentle Giant albums?

 

I was literally typing the exact same thing, almost word for word, as you posted this.

 

I'd buy the hell out of that.

 

I would divorce my wife and marry it!

 

Another theory: a new compilation of previously released XTC/Dukes songs -- maybe in demo or other re-imagined form (re-recorded?).

This would explain the 25 O'clock reference earlier.

 

This would disappoint me.

Maybe they found all the masters and are releasing 2 albums this time. It's been quite a long time since the last release.

 

It's not clear whether it's Andy writing these tweets, or just someone on the APE payroll. They could just be quoting XTC lyrics to attract attention, but then the album will turn out to be a Peter Blegvad/Pugwash collaboration. Whether such a record is of interest will of course depend on the tastes of the consumer - I won't say whether that would be a good or bad thing.

The pictures on Twitter are identified as part of "the cover to a forthcoming release," and they are definitely not close-ups of any existing XTC cover art. They haven't been changing the cover art on the Steven Wilson reissues - they even reverted to the 1986 Skylarking artwork after reviving Andy's planned cover for the 2010 corrected polarity reissue. So I don't think it's, say, Mummer with a new cover that features beer glasses and Big Ben.

The time on the clock appears to be 1:56, if that means anything. It may be arbitrary - the hands have to point somewhere.

If it's an XTC release, it would have to be some kind of compilation. But at this point, I'm not assuming that anyone from XTC is even on the record. (Considering how closely XTC is linked to Swindon, the prominent inclusion of a London landmark makes me suspect it's someone else on the APE roster, unless it's perhaps the new BBC compilation (recorded in London) that Andy promised many years ago, and which fell by the wayside along with other mooted projects.

 

Artwork teases remind me of the Fuzzy Warbles covers.

 

From Twitter:

News just in.... From two of the country's finest songwriters, come the first recordings from a recent collaboration - @robynhitchcock and #andypartridge. 4 track E.P. 'Planet England' out 6th September on CD and vinyl! APE #newmusic #planetengland #4trackEP APE HOUSE on Twitter

 

Nice!!!!

 

They were apparently writing together some time ago, when one song appeared on Ole Tarantula. Not sure if this is new stuff or songs from then, but I'm happy either way.

 

EP and Black Sea ordered. Good news all around.

 

Certainly sounds interesting - not sure how we were expected to guess that mind, just from details from a cover we'd never seen before!

 

The @apehouseXTC twitter feed is just getting annoying now....

 

not any more!

 

Psurroundabout Ride – Complete Dukes’ recordings remixed in stereo & 5.1 Surround Sound by Steven Wilson & approved by Andy Partridge on CD & Blu Ray. PLUS 200g vinyl of 25 o-Clock & Psonic Psunspot also out same day https://burningshed.com/store/ape #dukesofstratosphear #xtc #5.1remixes

 

HOLY COW

 

PRE-ORDERED!!! Oh man this has made my week.

 

GOBSMACKED!

I'm having a psychedelic phreakout!

 

Really annoyed I could only press the LIKE button once!!!

 

Mind officially blown!
Just pre-ordered both this and the new EP with Robyn Hitchcock.