Apple Venus Volume 1
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By
[]XTC
"Apple Venus Volume 1"(TVT)Rating: ***
Choice cuts:"Frivolous Tonight,""I'd Like That,""The Last Balloon"Since the '70s, XTC's hallmark has always been the songwriting talents of Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding. They've always defied and denied any form of categorization, letting their quirky music speak for itself with its melodic hooks and irreverent lyrics. True, they've never achieved great commercial success, but they are nevertheless a great band who have exerted considerable influence on a whole host of other successful and not-so-successful bands.Their last album"Nonsuch"was seven years ago, and after battling their record company to release them from their contracts, XTC is back with their own label and a new record. And they've lost none of their college-radio quirkiness, though sadly, guitarist Dave Gregory has left the band and his absence is sorely felt."River of Orchids"has a Greek chorus over trumpets and a New Age feel, while"I'd Like That"starts out sweet as a Beatlesque tune before ending with a rousing clack of castanets."Easter Theater"is a strong symphonic number that showcases the band's off-center songwriting at its finest."Knights in Shining Karma"starts out like a Simon and Garfunkel number but with the XTC twist thrown in halfway. The Beatles influence rises again on"Frivolous Tonight"which has the quality of a pub ditty. The orchestral/acoustic feel of"Apple Venus Volume 1"may throw some people off, but there is a more electronic, guitar-driven (and to quote Partridge,"rather noisy and crashy") Volume 2 to look forward to later this year. Until then, fans should be glad to know that Partridge and Moulding are back in the studios recording stuff they've accumulated during their seven-year silence. -- Dave Chua
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