Episodes
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From handing a tape to John Peel to encouraging Colin Moulding to write songs, Steve Warren is a key part of the XTC story. In a fascinating interview, he recalls befriending Andy Partridge as a child, working as a roadie for the Helium Kidz and touring the world with XTC.
Also in this episode, Gaz Barrett describes how he commissioned a mural of English Settlement in the centre of Swindon.
Artist Dayna Baxter on Instagram
Music from Garry Perkins on Soundcloud
What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com
If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher
Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.
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XTC fans were out in force at the Neo-Ancients festival in Stroud, Gloucestershire on Saturday 4 May 2024 when producer Hugh Padgham joined festival co-director Ben Wardle to talk about XTC’s English Settlement.
Your dedicated podcast host, Mark Fisher, was on hand with his trusty tape recorder to share it with you. Hugh talks about drunken jam sessions, Andy Partridge as a sumo wrestler and creating the flange effect on Jason and the Argonauts, as well as taking questions from the audience.
Music courtesy of Knight in Shining Karma Robert Lawlor.
What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com
If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher
Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.
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Missing episodes?
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Terry Chambers and EXTC are back on the road and they are sounding fantastic. In this episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, we catch up with Terry, Steve Hampton and Terry Lines at the start of a tour that will take in more than 20 dates in the USA, from Philadelphia to Virginia, and further gigs and festivals in the UK throughout the summer.
EXTC website
Music from Felix von Boxberg
What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com
If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher
Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ -
In the 50th episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, we go back to the formative years of XTC in the company of Ian Doeser and Lee Moulding. As well as being front man with the Hamsters from Hell, Ian was in Swindon’s first punk band, the Aggravators, and has been sharing his memories of XTC and others in a book, A Big Fish in a Small Puddle. As well as being Ian’s drummer, Lee has a lifetime of memories growing up as a child of XTC.
Music courtesy of Beth Link.
A Big Fish in a Small Puddle available on Amazon
What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com
If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher
Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ -
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of XTC’s landmark album Apple Venus Volume I, producer Haydn Bendall talks to What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast about the fraught recording sessions that nonetheless resulted in such majestic songs as River of Orchids, Easter Theatre and Greenman.
“The songs were fabulous,” he says. “I loved the songs.”
Fellow producer Guy Sigsworth joins Mark Fisher to ask the questions.
The Real Numbers Haydn Bendall Guy SigsworthWhat Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com
If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher
Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.
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In this month’s episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast we hear from Jason Repantis who works as a manager at the Universal Music Group archives. It was his job to dig out the original tapes of The Big Express for the recent Steven Wilson 5.1 Atmos remix – as well as to locate the original recordings of the 3D EP which has just been released in limited-edition vinyl. Jon Jacques and Mark Fisher ask the questions.
We also join Todd Bernhardt to pay tribute to Wes Long, creator of the Optimism’s Flames website, who died much too soon on 6 December 2023.
Music comes courtesy of Michael Casey.
Optimism’s Flames website
Wes Long obituary
3D EP at Burning Shed
The Big Express remix at Burning Shed:
Something Left Worth Saving by Michael Casey and Junglefish
What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com
If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher
Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ -
Peter Pumpkinhead proclaims that "Any kind of love is alright" and gets nailed to a chunk of wood for saying so. What does that tell us about XTC's attitude to love and human relationships? In particular, how welcoming does this heterosexual band seem to those who aren't heterosexual themselves?
This episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast looks at XTC from an LGBTQI+ perspective. Guest host Darryl Bullock is joined by Keeley Moss, Tim Kendrick and Soizic De St John Rosse to talk about everything from The Loving to Towers of London.
Music by Tim Pike and Slowrush.
Darryl Bullock
Keeley
2025 XTC Fans Festival, Friday 20–Sunday 22 June 2025
Slowrush
What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com
If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher
Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ -
Steven Wilson has returned to XTC's 1984 masterpiece and given it not only a stunning 5.1 surround remix but also, for the first time with XTC, a Dolby Atmos mix. Released on 29 September 2023, The Big Express comes complete with a two-disc digipack sleeve and 16-page booklet.
Mark Reed, Mark Smotroff, Jon Jacques, David White and Steve Cox have enjoyed an early preview of the new mixes. They share their excitement on What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast.
Music courtesy of Nigel Collyer
The Big Express available from Burning Shed
Thanks to Julie Blore-Bizot of L-Acoustics for her help.
What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com
If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher
Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ -
Chris Braide, one of the most successful songwriters of his generation, talks to What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast about his collaborations with Andy Partridge, including Goodbye to You (Sister Shame) on Celestial Songs, the latest album by the Downes Braide Association, and the six-track Queen of the Planet Wow! EP expected out in 2024.
Chris Braide
Music courtesy of Chris Carry
What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com
If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher
Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ -
As Steve Conte releases his Fourth of July single, the guitarist and singer talks about writing songs with his XTC hero, joining the New York Dolls and playing on stage with Chuck Berry. He also gives tantalising pointers to his forthcoming album of co-writes with Andy Partridge.
This episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast also includes comments from Andy Partridge himself, plus sad news about Ian C Stewart.
Music courtesy of Don Kerr and Communism.
Steve Conte
Limited edition Fourth of July on 7" blue vinyl
Communism
XTC fan tribute compilations by the late Ian C Stewart:
https://archive.org/details/TheXtcFansTribute-Skylacking
https://archive.org/details/TheXtcFansTribute-ObsceneCollection
https://archive.org/details/TheXtcFansTribute-BeastsIveSeen/
What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com
If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher
Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ -
Andy Partridge and Stu Rowe have been working together since the recording of Monstrance in 2006. Andy then produced Jen Olive's album Warm Robot in 2009 and Stu produced Jen's album The Breaks in 2013. Somewhere in between all that they laid down a series of improvisatory ideas that have become The 3 Clubmen EP.
In this third episode, XTC's Andy Partridge talks about the unexpected joys of collaboration, the secret origins of Meccanik Dancing and his latest songwriting partnerships.
The 3 Clubmen EP is released 30 June 2023 and available from Burning Shed
The 3 Clubmen
Stu Rowe
Jen Olive
Andy Partridge's Ape House on Burning Shed
Music courtesy of Mario Rodríguez Centeno, from La Jvnta
What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com
If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher
Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ -
Ten years ago Stu Rowe, Jen Olive and XTC's Andy Partridge started working on material which, after all these years, is finally – and gloriously seeing the light of day. To celebrate the arrival of The 3 Clubmen, we're talking to each of the brilliant musicians in turn.
This week, Jen Olive talks about the genesis of the 3 Clubmen EP as well as working with Andy Partridge on her album Warm Robot and with Stu Rowe on The Breaks.
The 3 Clubmen EP is released 30 June 2023 and available from Burning Shed https://burningshed.com/the-3-clubmen_the-3-clubmen-ep_cd
The 3 Clubmen https://www.facebook.com/the3clubmenStu Rowe https://www.facebook.com/stu.rowe.3Jen Olive https://www.facebook.com/jen.olive.5Andy Partridge's Ape House on Burning Shed https://burningshed.com/store/apeMusic courtesy of Mark Sander and Cone of Silence whose album Sixty-Grit Sandpaper and Other Delights can be streamed on major platforms including Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/2NScWtLyNgLkSzsOddYCCC
What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com
If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher
Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ -
It's the music we've been awaiting for a decade – and now it's out! Stu Rowe, Jen Olive and Andy Partridge have gone public with The 3 Clubmen and their very wonderful eponymous four-track EP is released at the end of June. But with three such gifted musicians to choose from, what's a humble podcaster to do?
There can be only one answer: three weekly podcasts!
In the first episode, Stu Rowe talks about working with XTC's Andy Partridge, Colin Moulding, Terry Chambers, Barry Andrews and Dave Gregory, as well as Jen Olive and most musicians in Swindon.
The 3 Clubmen EP is released 30 June 2023 and available from Burning Shed https://burningshed.com/the-3-clubmen_the-3-clubmen-ep_cd
The 3 Clubmen https://www.facebook.com/the3clubmenStu Rowe https://www.facebook.com/stu.rowe.3Jen Olive https://www.facebook.com/jen.olive.5Andy Partridge's Ape House on Burning Shed https://burningshed.com/store/ape Music courtesy of Joel Bell https://soundcloud.com/joel-bell-4/sets/limelight-fuzzy-warbles-for-mark-fWhat Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com
If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher
Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ -
Oh we do like to be beside the B-sides. In this month’s episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, Mia Rankin, Ashley LeCron, Crawford Blair and Mark Fisher pick their favourite non-album songs , ranging from She's So Square to The World Is Full of Angry Young Men.
Music provided by Jeff Nicholson.
The episode was inspired by Mia’s ranking of all XTC B-sides on her Dead Letter Offices substack
What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com
If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher
Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ -
What happens when a Christian, a Humanist and a Buddhist congregate to talk about the songs of XTC? Will they give praise? Or will they be torn asunder?
David White, Belinda Blanchard and Ash Jñānagarbha share a pew with Mark Fisher to discuss Dear God, Dying, The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead, Easter Theatre, The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul, Scatter Me and Senses Working Overtime.
Music by Christopher Underwood and 5 Guys Named Lars
Ash Jñānagarbha
Belinda Blanchard in Dear God
David White's S.C.R.A.P.E.S
What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com
If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher
Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ -
In the second of a two-part conversation for What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, five fans, journalists and photographers recall what it was like to witness XTC explode onto the scene. On 20 January 1978, XTC released their debut album, White Music, setting our radios in motion for the next 45 years.
Tony Mitchell, editorial staffer on Sounds, followed XTC to Hamburg, Amsterdam and Japan. Photographer Jill Furmanovsky was on the same trip to Hamburg in 1978 and subsequent publicity sessions. Beverley Glick, who wrote for Sounds under the name of Betty Page, joined XTC in New York in 1980. Paul Burgess and Andy Poulton were at school at Headlands in Swindon, where the caretaker was Colin Moulding's dad.
Music by Warren Butson.
XTC's White Music: 45 years on (part one)
What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com
If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher
Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.
Paul Burgess
This Is Hardcore
Warren Butson
Helter Skelter
Jill Furmanovsky
Website
Rock Archive
Swindon Works: XTC 1978 Hanging Around books
Beverley Glick
WebsiteTony Mitchell
Website
Andy Poulton
Website
Sounds Clips
Twitter
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On 20 January 1978, XTC released their debut album with its defiant cry of This Is Pop! In the first of a two-part conversation for What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, five fans, journalists and photographers recall what it was like to witness XTC explode onto the scene with White Music.
Tony Mitchell, editorial staffer on Sounds, followed XTC to Hamburg, Amsterdam and Japan. Photographer Jill Furmanovsky was on the same trip to Hamburg in 1978 and subsequent publicity sessions. Beverley Glick, who wrote for Sounds under the name of Betty Page, joined XTC in New York in 1980. Paul Burgess and Andy Poulton were at school at Headlands in Swindon, where the caretaker was Colin Moulding's dad.
Music by Jon Bicknell.
What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com
If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher
Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.
Jon Bicknell
Drums and Wires UK
That Sfumato Effect
Paul Burgess
This Is Hardcore
Jill Furmanovsky
Website
Rock Archive
Swindon Works: XTC 1978 Hanging Around books
Beverley Glick
Website
Tony Mitchell
Website
Andy Poulton
Website
Sounds Clips
Twitter
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ -
Illustration: Ashley LeCron
In October 2020, we handed over What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast to a bunch of fans in their 20s. Time has passed and we're ready to hear from an even newer generation of XTC fans who are as wise and articulate as the last.
In a lively conversation, Ashley LeCron, Lexie Ward, Lee Saunders and Lewis Wilkinson share their enthusiasm not only for XTC but also the bands that led them to discover XTC.
And because it's that time of year, they are in party spirit.
They've even put together a companion playlist.What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com
If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher
Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ -
Picture © Lou Dommett Young
What was it like to be on the road with one of the hardest working bands of the late 70s and early 80s? We find out from four veterans of XTC's touring years: drummer Terry Chambers, journalist Allan Jones and roadies Pete Dewhirst and Steve Warren.
Many thanks to Mike Smith and Steve Manning and the other XTC Convention organisers for making it all possible.
What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com
If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher
Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ -
Picture © Lou Dommett Young
One of the many highlights of the 2022 XTC Convention in Swindon was an in-depth interview with producer John Leckie. Talking to co-organiser Darryl Bullock, he recalled his formative studio experience working with former members of the Beatles and the excitement of going into the studio with XTC for their first two albums.
After that came the sonic experiments of Go+ and Take Away/The Lure of Salvage and, of course, 25 O’Clock and Psonic Psunspot for the Dukes of Stratosphear.
Many thanks to Darryl for conducting the interview and sound engineer Paul Bullimore who made the audio possible – not just for this but the whole weekend.
What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com
If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher
Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.
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