Drums & Wires

This album has long been regarded as a turning point for XTC, but this review is just about the new, 2014 edition boxed set with the bonus of a Blu Ray disc containing new mixes and the kind of definition/quality previously only available on SACD. The big difference from CD though, is the 2014 surround sound mix and playing this on my home cinema system it is a revelation. Bass is truly huge - deeper than the deepest reggae dub bass sound - and effects fly around you in the surround mix.The album was a fresh start for XTC when they lost their keyboard player, who had given a lot to their distinctive sound up to that point - and it then just became all about guitars. In order to fill out the sound (possibly to make up for lack of keyboards)there are multiple guitar tracks which in the stereo mix tend to merge and get lost - but in the surround sound, these are given their own space and you can hear them "dove-tailing". Similarly, the album has a lot of unpitched weird noises and effects that in flat stereo tend to merge with the guitars - but in the surround mix, fly around the space and stand out more .All the tracks on the original album get new, Dolby 5.1 mixes and additional bonus tracks also get surround - "Life Begins at the Hop", "Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down" etc. There are also instrumental mixes and then 6 sets of rehearsal tapes, whch are of curiosity value, but probably won't get listened to, that often. It's interesting to hear how rough the band sounded and then how that came to be honed into tracks that are quite complex, harmonically and rhythmically; with additional horn arrangements etc.There is also a nice colour booklet included with pictures and new notes written by all the band members about how they felt and with details of the recording sessions. There are a lot of interesting insights and quirky facts - like how they used the sound of Colin's electric shaver, almost playing in the key of G, on "Complicated Game" .The new CD mix is an update, but not that different. The real selling point of this new package is the surround sound and if you have a Blu Ray home cinema system and like the band, then this becomes an essential purchase - it really is a hugely different experience hearing these tracks with this added dimension. It's certainly a 5-star top recommendation for this feature. If you are just looking at the 2 channel CD, then maybe not so much value in this .

This classic XTC album benefits from a great new mix/remaster plus a blu-ray with lots of extra tracks, original mixes and videos.Making Plans for Nigel has never sounded better.Do check out the other XTC remasters, they are some of the best reissues out there.

The definitive double disc remastered version of this New Wave Classic with added demos, rarities, outtakes, studio sessions with 2 Music Videos of the Singles and a comprehensive booklet with liner notes by Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding themselves.A five star must buy for any fan of the band or the genre.Simple Outstanding, I can't wait for the other ten releases!

I bought it for my son and he loves it.

Great album given a new lease of life with the Steven Wilson remixes.Blu Ray version contains over 100 tracks including the original mixes, demos, rehearsals and a 5.1 mix

Fantastic album with fantastic extras.

The new mix sounds AMAZING! You can hear the drums breathing. But, what really makes this blu-ray edition worth it is the amount of extras... The demos, the rehersals, the instrumental mix, the b-sides, the promo videos. The Nonsuch 5.1 blu-ray edition is equally AMAZING! But, Drums & Wires takes the cake just for shear amount of extras.

xtc just got better in hi res