Wasp Star - Apple Venus Vol 2

I'm guilty of being one of those people that have known XTC's music through the singles but have never ventured further into their expertise. When I first heard Making Plans For Nigel, I was about 22 and working on a farm for a lazy sod of a farmer who rarely showed up so I spent hours alone in a tractor with nothing but music for company. I've always loved music and was very fortunate in having parents that allowed me access to the radiogram (remember them?) from a very young age and my formative years were spent listening to George Shearing, Duane Eddy, Bill Haley etc on vinyl, hours spent tuning through Radio Caroline, Radio London and, of course, Luxembourg. How I miss 208! Anyway, back to MPFN, when I first heard this, it was about two in the morning and I was in the middle of a field ploughing. I just had to stop to listen to this completely different piece of music, the likes of which, I'd never heard before. I was hooked and couldn't wait to hear it again and again. Remember- I was a farm worker in north Devon so I was so low paid that buying records was just a pipe dream. I was paid barely enough to get me to work and back! So years pass and I've bought hundreds of cd's after better wages and the kids fleeing the nest (Thank God!) and I finally get around to exploring the genius of Andy and Colin. This was the first album I bought along with Big Express. It's hard to believe that there's nearly twenty years between them. Two cd's with nearly thirty tracks and there isn't one track I dislike. They are the reason that I'm in the process of buying the entire back catalog. With apologies to The Who and Tom waits as they're not in the 'grab first' stack at the moment. The Dukes are in the next 'collect' category after the rest of of XTC. Andy Partridge is a gifted genius and it's a great shame that he and Colin Moulding aren't better recognised for their monumental contribution to English music.

I have to say that I am a massive XTC fan going back to 1979, and have been waiting with bated breath for this album to experience a vinyl repressing. I have purchased all of the recent vinyls, including the 200grm deluxe repressings, with the amazing ‘Skarking’ being my favourite vinyl re-release to date. From a quality perspective, my Wasp Star copy ticks all the boxes and played flat and true and no unnecessary background noise or pops etc, and sounded superb on my Rega 6 deck! Buy with confidence what is a great vinyl version of a great band, that is so missed by many.

I hunted this down after hearing Andy playing the riff to Playground on YouTube & I’m very glad I did. XTC used to be one of my favouriteBands & somehow dropped off my radar, which could have something to do with them getting banned from TOTP’s. Now I’m catching upOn their back catalogue & Wasp star is the latest in my collection. Some of the songs are instantly catchy & the others creep up on you.IMO this is stronger album than Apple Venus that proceeded this, so I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this to anyone who likes well craftedSongs.

despite having everything XTC and the dukes have released for some reason i never got round to buying this.don't know why as its a cracking finale!probably the most easily accessible XTC album, back to basics from apple Venus volume 1, but whilst not as inventive a joyous sing along piece of well crafted tunes.as always sadly missed.

One of XTC,s better latter day albums

One of the best XTC albums. They never stopped evolving and cannot be pigeon holed. If you like quality music you won't be disappointed.

I have like XTC for over 30 years but have only recently got round to buying this one-very melodic work and some nice songs. A very likeable and listenable album.

The media could not be loaded.  It’s a real shame: very bad quality control. The b side has some stains and little bubbles that affect reproduction. The cartridge can’t track it correctly and so it skips.