First the two songs included as downloads with this set "Spiral" and "Say It" are extremely good tunes. The pair wouldn't be out of place on "Wasp Star" the second album included with this set. This collects the two albums that XTC released after their protracted strike against Virgin Records. "Apple Venus" features songs embellished with orchestration and some of Andy Partridge's most challenging material. "River of Orchids", "Easter Theatre", "The Last Balloon" and "Greenman" are among Partridge's most accomplished songs. "Your Dictionary" with its nasty post-divorce lyric adds some bite to the album. Even lesser material like "I'd Like That" is charming with a solid melody. It's one of XTC's most accomplished albums even if Colin Moulding's songs aren't quite up to his best standard.
"Wasp Star" is the guitar album that the band probably should have released first. Because they didn't work on it first Dave Gregory left the band feeling as if he had no function in the band's direction. It's just a notch below "Apple Venus" but the best bits are every bit as good. From the distorted guitar that opens "Playground" to Moulding's "Standing in for Joe" the album hardly misses.
The two albums of demos sound roughly the same as their fleshed out counterparts. A couple of the demos for "Wasp Star" actually are superior to the finished versions. The rougher "Wounded Horse" for some reason sounds...more complete than the finished more polished version. "I'm The Man Who Murdered Love" is fascinating to listen to primarily because Partridge includes bits and pieces of the song in various states and the previous version is completely different sounding when compared to the finished version. Even Moulding's "Standing in for Joe" changes substanially from the initial arrangement to the final version. Unlike the Japanese import versions this doesn't include either the bonus disc with Andy and Colin playing three songs from the album explaining their evolution nor does it include the bonus demo for "It Didn't Hurt A Bit".
It does, however, include the code to download two recent XTC songs "Spiral" and "Say It". Both are very good tunes. It's a pity the only way to get both songs is to buy this set. Overall "Apple Venus" deserves 4 1/2 stars, "Wasp Star" 4 and the demo albums 3 each. "Spiral" and "Say It" likewise deserve 4 stars although "Where Did the Ordinary People Go?" from Colin (a song written for "Nonsuch" but withheld until recently)is much better than "Say It" and probably should have been included it is only available from the itunes store at present.
The artwork is nice for the box. If you didn't purchase these separately or need to replace your pair of albums this is a well priced replacement with the added incentive of some new material.
I'd agree though that if you already have all of these in their original format then by all means you've no real reason to go out and buy this ( unless you're a rabid collector ). If you're relatively new to XTC, go out and buy this immediately. Think of it this way, you're killing 4 birds with one stone. And at a reasonable price too.
As for the music - well it is stunning but I need to give it more time to sink in with me.
I am a long time XTC fan but I have to say that more than perturbed that there are 2 new songs available only if you purchase this box set. I love XTC but I will not spend $57 for 2 songs no matter who it is.
