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The title of Psurroundabout Ride hints at the calling card of this, the second compilation of the complete works of the XTC side project the Dukes of Stratosphear. Where 1987's Chips from the Chocolate Fireball helpfully combined 1985's 25 O'Clock and 1987's Psonic Psunspot on a single CD, this 2019 CD/Blu-ray set offers it all: the original stereo mixes of the EP and LP, plus the "later recordings" "Open a Can of Human Beans," "Black Jewelled Serpent of Sound (Radio Caroline Edit)" and "Tin Toy Clockwork Train," along with demos of all of 25 O'Clock and six key Psonic Psunspot songs, plus brand-new 5.1 and stereo mixes from Steven Wilson. The key attraction are the new Wilson mixes.
Wilson has a proven track record remixing the XTC catalog -- he's also worked with King Crimson, Yes, and Chicago, among others -- but the Dukes records are something of a sticky wicket, since half of their appeal lies in how original producer John Leckie saluted and satirized classic '60s psychedelic productions. The playful 5.1 mix captures that spirit, but the new stereo mixes dampen the mischief; they're too open and bright, so they feel less like excavated relics from the summer of love. Since Psurroundabout Ride also offers hi-res versions of the original mixes, the inclusion of the new stereo mixes isn't a drag, and it's also a delight to have the demos along with the instrumentals, which help highlight the song constructions and the clever arrangements. All told, it's enough rare and good stuff to warrant a purchase from Dukes fanatics.
Tracklist
25 O'Clock, Psonic Psunspot And Later Recordings (2019 Stereo Mix)
CD-1 25 O'Clock 5:03
CD-2 Bike Ride To The Moon 2:23
CD-3 My Love Explodes 3:48
CD-4 What In The World??... 5:00
CD-5 Your Gold Dress 4:41
CD-6 The Mole From The Ministry 5:50
CD-7 Vanishing Girl 3:01
CD-8 Have You Seen Jackie? 3:21
CD-9 Little Lighthouse 4:31
CD-10 You're A Good Man Albert Brown (Curse You Red Barrel) 3:39
CD-11 Collideascope 3:25
CD-12 You're My Drug 3:20
CD-13 Shiny Cage 3:17
CD-14 Brainiac's Daughter 3:58
CD-15 The Affiliated 2:31
CD-16 Pale And Precious 4:56
CD-17 Open A Can Of Human Beans 4:44
CD-18 Black Jewelled Serpent Of Sound (Radio Caroline Edit) 2:19
CD-19 Tin Toy Clockwork Train 3:18
2019 5.1 Mixes
BD-1 25 O'Clock
BD-2 Bike Ride To The Moon
BD-3 My Love Explodes
BD-4 What In The World ??...
BD-5 Your Gold Dress
BD-6 The Mole From The Ministry
BD-7 Vanishing Girl
BD-8 Have You Seen Jackie?
BD-9 Little Lighthouse
BD-10 You're A Good Man Albert Brown (Curse You Red Barrel)
BD-11 Collideascope
BD-12 You're My Drug
BD-13 Shiny Cage
BD-14 Brainiac's Daughter
BD-15 The Affiliated
BD-16 Pale And Precious
BD-17 Open A Can Of Human Beans
BD-18 Black Jewelled Serpent Of Sound (Radio Caroline Edit)
BD-19 Tin Toy Clockwork Train
2019 Stereo
BD-20 25 O'Clock
BD-21 Bike Ride To The Moon
BD-22 My Love Explodes
BD-23 What In The World??...
BD-24 Your Gold Dress
BD-25 The Mole From The Ministry
BD-26 Vanishing Girl
BD-27 Have You Seen Jackie?
BD-28 Little Lighthouse
BD-29 You're A Good Man Albert Brown (Curse You Red Barrel)
BD-30 Collideascope
BD-31 You're My Drug
BD-32 Shiny Cage
BD-33 Brainiac's Daughter
BD-34 The Affiliated
BD-35 Pale And Precious
BD-36 Open A Can Of Human Beans
BD-37 Black Jewelled Serpent Of Sound (Radio Caroline Edit)
BD-38 Tin Toy Clockwork Train
Instrumental
BD-39 25 O'Clock
BD-40 Bike Ride To The Moon
BD-41 My Love Explodes
BD-42 What In The World??...
BD-43 Your Gold Dress
BD-44 The Mole From The Ministry
BD-45 Vanishing Girl
BD-46 Have You Seen Jackie?
BD-47 Little Lighthouse
BD-48 You're A Good Man Albert Brown (Curse You Red Barrel)
BD-49 Collideascope
BD-50 You're My Drug
BD-51 Shiny Cage
BD-52 Brainiac's Daughter
BD-53 The Affiliated
BD-54 Pale And Precious
BD-55 Black Jewelled Serpent Of Sound (Radio Caroline Edit)
BD-56 Tin Toy Clockwork Train
Original Stereo
BD-57 25 O'Clock
BD-58 Bike Ride To The Moon
BD-59 My Love Explodes
BD-60 What In The World??...
BD-61 Your Gold Dress
BD-62 The Mole From The Ministry
BD-63 Vanishing Girl
BD-64 Have You Seen Jackie?
BD-65 Little Lighthouse
BD-66 You're A Good Man Albert Brown (Curse You Red Barrel)
BD-67 Collideascope
BD-68 You're My Drug
BD-69 Shiny Cage
BD-70 Brainiac's Daughter
BD-71 The Affiliated
BD-72 Pale And Precious
BD-73 Open A Can of Human Beans
BD-74 Black Jewelled Serpent Of Sound (Radio Caroline Edit)
BD-75 Tin Toy Clockwork Train
Demos
BD-76 25 O'Clock (Demo)
BD-77 Bike Ride To The Moon (Demo)
BD-78 My Love Explodes (Demo)
BD-79 What In The World ??... (Demo)
BD-80 Nicely Nicely Jane (Demo)
BD-81 Susan Revolving (Demo)
BD-82 No One At Home [Vanishing Girl] (Demo)
BD-83 Little Lighthouse (Demo)
BD-84 Collideascope (Demo)
BD-85 Shiny Cage (Demo)
BD-86 Brainiac's Daughter (Demo)
BD-87 The Affiliated (Demo)