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Price history (90 days)
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90-day low
$60.99
90-day high
$61.00
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$61.00
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About this electronic
Andy Partridge / Colin Moulding / Dave Gregory / Terry Chambers “Steven has again worked his magic and offered a new perspective of our ground-breaking 1979 album, expanding the audio picture through 360° and revealing details previously overlooked. The whole album shimmers with a sonic gloss that's brought it to the 21st century with no loss of historic integrity; the songs are as strong today as they were 46 years ago. Immerse yourself, but be prepared for the closing maelstrom that is 'Complicated Game'...you may never recover.” – Dave Gregory The 2025 CD/Blu-ray presents the album and a number of additional tracks in Dolby Atmos, mixed & produced by Steven Wilson as he approached an album he first mixed in 2014 and again brings a fresh aural perspective to one of 1979’s most memorable albums – a line ascribed to the 2014 mixes that’s even more accurate now. One of the gems of the post-punk era, replete with the sort of musical diversity that would have been unimaginable two years earlier, Swindon’s finest, XTC, produced an early classic album with their third release, the Steve Lillywhite produced Drums and Wires. Andy Partridge recalls it as an optimistic time for the band. Dave Gregory’s arrival on guitar (replacing organist Barry Andrews who left following the release of Go2) marked a shift in style with the group now configured as a twin guitar/bass/drums line-up. Despite an endless touring schedule, much time was spent honing new material. Both Partridge & Colin Moulding were growing in confidence as songwriters – this album did much to further their reputation for peerless post-punk pop tunes. But it was also Steve Lillywhite & engineer Hugh Padgham’s ability to give appropriate studio support & recording expertise to the more expansive pieces such as “Roads Girdle The Globe” & “Complicated Game” that helped to bring a new level of maturity to the overall feel of the release. Issued at the start of September, Drums and Wires entered the UK Albums Chart where it remained for a total of seven weeks, accompanied by another first for the band, a Top 20 UK (& international) hit single in album lead track “Making Plans for Nigel”. The optimism of the recording sessions had proved justified. Steven Wilson comments that “during the remix process it became apparent that the masters of “Officer Blue” and “That is the Way” were both slowed down significantly for the original release. It’s not uncommon for tracks to be slightly speeded up during mastering to make them sound sprightlier, but no one could remember why, in this case, the tracks were slowed down. For the 2025 mixes, in consultation with Colin Moulding - songwriter of both titles - the decision was made to include B-side “Officer Blue” as the band recorded it, at the correct speed for the first time. In the case of “That is the Way” - it being a key album track - the new mix has been slowed down to match the familiar album version but additionally, a bonus version is included which has no adjustment to the pitch and is exactly as the band recorded it”. Joining the new Dolby Atmos mix is all of the audio material first presented on the (now long-unavailable) 2014 edition when Steven Wilson remixed the album in new stereo and 5.1 editions alongside a number of additional tracks all presented on Blu-ray here with minor revisions & a set of stereo instrumentals of the album. The original album mix is also included in High-Resolution stereo. The Blu-Ray edition also includes the DJM mixes – songs earmarked as potential single releases & a number of full demo sessions tracking the complete evolution of the album – a virtual boxed set on a single Blu-Ray disc. All of the stereo material is presented in 24/96 LPCM stereo while the 5.1 material appears in DTS-HD MA audio format. For anyone fortunate enough to be new to the album, yes, pop music really was this good at one point in time. It was even reasonably popular. The album has been mixed for Dolby Atmos Immersive Audio from the original multitrack studio master tapes by Steven Wilson & is fully approved by XTC. • CD: features the 2014 album mix of the original album (with minor 2025 revisions), singles and additional tracks mixed by Steven Wilson • Blu-ray: Full album & additional tracks mixed in Dolby Atmos • Blu-ray: Full album in DTS-HD MA 5.1 Surround Sound (2014 mix with minor 2025 revisions) • Blu-ray: Full album, additional tracks & instrumentals in LPCM 24/96 stereo (2014 mix with minor 2025 revisions). • Blu-ray: Full album - original master and bonus tracks in LPCM 24/96 Stereo • A vast amount of additional material including all available demo, rehearsal & pre album sessions recordings • Presented in replica mini-vinyl style packaging with booklet including photos & album lyrics • All 2025 & 2014 material mixed & produced by Steven Wilson.
