LEGENDARY POP BAND XTC SIGNS TO TVT RECORDS

For Immediate Release:

LEGENDARY POP BAND XTC SIGNS TO TVT RECORDS

* Songwriter Laureate Andy Partridge Brings Ecstasy To New Label And Long-Time Fans *

New York, NY, July 30 -- TVT Records is proud to announce the North American signing of English pop purveyors XTC, one of the UK's most prolific and treasured musical imports. TVT plans to release the band's first studio album since 1992's Nonsuch during the first quarter of 1999 followed by a subsequent release in the Fall. XTC's first album under the TVT agreement will feature a mixture of orchestral and acoustic melodies along with the band's trademark lyrical content. The band's Fall 1999 release is scheduled to be a more traditional XTC pop album. The band previously recorded for Virgin Records in the UK and Geffen in the States.

XTC founding members Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding are currently working on their yet untitled 15th studio album with producer Haydn Bendall (Kate Bush) and longtime collaborator and Nonsuch producer Nick Davis. The record also features former XTC guitarist Dave Gregory as well as the 120-piece London Sessions Symphony. The album was partially recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London and at band-mate Colin's Wiltshire home.

"I like to call it an Orch-ustic record really," said Andy Partridge. "It's not Rock-n-Roll and we like it!"

"The return of XTC already makes 1999 a great year for music," said TVT Records President Steve Gottlieb. "From what I've heard so far the songwriting for this orchestral record is some of Andy's best yet. This is a great addition to the TVT family."

Formed in the urban English town of Swindon in 1975, XTC fashioned a smart, quirky brand of power pop that made them one of the most influential bands to emerge from the post-punk movement of the late-seventies/early-eighties. Their enigmatic 23-year career includes many critically lauded records, several offbeat "side" projects and an abundance of memorable singles including "Life Begins At The Hop" (1979), "Senses Working Overtime" (1982), "Dear God" (1987), "The Mayor Of Simpleton" (1989) and "The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead" (1992).

Go back to Chalkhills Articles.