XTC - Drums and Wires
2025 Update: I’ve revisited Drums and Wires for a 2025 update, refining the 2014 stereo and 5.1 surround mixes and adding a brand new Dolby Atmos mix with tweaks that bring XTC’s 1979 classic into sharper focus. After discovering that Officer Blue and That is the Way were slowed down in the original release, I worked to restore Officer Blue to its recorded speed for the first time and included a bonus That is the Way at its original pitch alongside the familiar version. As Dave Gregory puts it, the album now “shimmers with a sonic gloss” that feels modern yet true to its roots, especially in the immersive 5.1 mix and the new 200g vinyl LP pressing of the revised mix.
Original Post: I’ve remixed XTC’s Drums and Wires for its 2014 reissue on CD/Blu-ray and CD/DVD-A, creating new stereo and 5.1 surround sound mixes from the original 1979 multi-track tapes. This album marked XTC’s breakthrough with their first UK hit, Making Plans for Nigel, and introduced the dual-guitar lineup of Andy Partridge and Dave Gregory alongside Colin Moulding and Terry Chambers. The Blu-ray edition is a treasure trove, featuring over 100 tracks including single A/B-sides, instrumental mixes, demos, rehearsal tapes, and promo videos, all in high resolution, alongside the original stereo mix.
