White Music
	Produced by John Leckie
	Released on January 20, 1978
	UK CHART POSITION #38
	Find it at GEMM
GEFD-24373 cover [high resolution scan]

X TC were in the white place at the white time. England in 1977 was a hotbed of musical dissent due to the punk explosion and bands crawled out of their basements, guitars in hand, ready to revolt against popular music. If it was loud, if it was noisy, if it was shocking, it was considered punk. XTC’s debut album was all three and thus found an audience in punk’s anti-establishmentary acolytes. White Music willed itself insane with improbably tight arrangements, cacophonous clashes of instruments, churlish vocals and, despite everything, a devious sense of harmony. The latter quality was strong enough, mercifully, to make White Music not just another assault on the senses but a calculated assault on our musical sensibilities. Songs like “This Is Pop,” “Into the Atom Age” and “New Town Animal in a Furnished Cage” attacked the status quo strategically by aiming at its weakest points: normalcy, decency, complacency. This was reactionary music, over the top, an unleashed ego in the middle of a musical tantrum. Barry Andrews’ keyboards and Andy Partridge’s guitars delved deep into dissonance until the tension became unbearable, then released the tension with remarkably tuneful choruses, pretending as if bubblegum and battery acid were the most natural combination. In time, the band realized that they’d catch more flies with honey and got out of the vinegar business. The first two records remain noisy anomalies, the rugged warlords of the wilderness who sired a dynasty of distinguished kings. I’d seek audience with the kings first (Drums + Wires, Black Sea, English Settlement), but genealogists will agree there isn’t a branch on this family tree that isn’t worth climbing out on. When you’re ready, look for the expanded CD reissue with seven worthy bonus tracks including their first single, “Science Friction.”

GEFD-24373 back sleeve

TRACK LISTING

1. RADIOS IN MOTION    (Andy Partridge)    2:52
2. CROSS WIRES    (Colin Moulding)    2:03
3. THIS IS POP    (Andy Partridge)    2:38
4. DO WHAT YOU DO    (Colin Moulding)    1:14
5. STATUE OF LIBERTY    (Andy Partridge)    2:52
6. ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER    (Bob Dylan)    5:40
7. INTO THE ATOM AGE    (Andy Partridge)    2:32
8. I'LL SET MYSELF ON FIRE    (Colin Moulding)    3:00
9. I'M BUGGED    (Andy Partridge)    3:59
10. NEW TOWN ANIMAL IN A FURNISHED CAGE    (Andy Partridge)    1:51
11. SPINNING TOP    (Andy Partridge)    2:38
12. NEON SHUFFLE    (Andy Partridge)    4:25
    
    CD reissue bonus tracks
    
13. SCIENCE FRICTION    (Andy Partridge)    3:12
14. SHE'S SO SQUARE    (Andy Partridge)    3:06
15. DANCE BAND    (Colin Moulding)    2:40
16. HANG ON TO THE NIGHT    (Andy Partridge)    2:06
17. HEATWAVE    (Colin Moulding)    2:08
18. TRAFFIC LIGHT ROCK    (Andy Partridge)    1:40
19. INSTANT TUNES    (Colin Moulding)    2:28

CREDITS

BARRY ANDREWS --
TERRY CHAMBERS --
COLIN MOULDING --
ANDY PARTRIDGE --
R.J. Lange -- producer (17)

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