Out of all the nine tracks I produced for Ape last year this is my personal favourite.
It’s got this strange dark undercurrent going on- with monks chanting and a lot of dissonance-some people find it quite hard to listen to but it seems absolutely perfect to me—balanced-but just teetering on the edge of disaster.

I played it to someone once in headphones and they said it felt like their head was being pulled apart!! Someone else described it in a blog as sounding like “making filthy love in a railway arch, whilst on acid, in 1940s New York”. Which of course I was thrilled by.

When it was in its early days as a bunch of unconnected noises put together by me and Andy, I played it to some other singers to see if they were interested in contributing to it- the reaction was “no- its shit!!”.- hahah – But Jen took these completely random bits of music and glued them into something completely different. From then on it just needed organizing and arranging. I spent months lovingly tweaking and moving it about in a dark obsessive manner.

The video came about as I was messing about watching old cartoons and simultaneously listening to music. I slowed down a Little Audrey cartoon from 1949 to half speed and it’s as if it was made for it- quite spooky really.

It’s on the Hard Listening EP which of course everyone should buy.

 

 My Dream Sea: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this the final part of our Psychedelic Psoiree between Sir John Johns, also known as our Andy P, and Swami Anand Nagara, or John Leckie they remember all sorts of delights from dirt floor living, to that guest drummer on ‘Pale and Precious’ and woodworking!!.

Buy XTC/Dukes re-issues

 

 John Leckie Podcast pt 4 [20:42m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Andy and John talk about the making of Psonic Psunspot at the Cornish Studio Sawmills; the Abbey Road for the Straw Dogs set.
Situated on a tidal creek this is the same studio where, having achieved the unique Dukes sound,  John subsequently recorded the legendary debut Stone Roses album.

Did you know?  on Psonic Psunspot, the sides were flipped, so the album as you hear it now was not the original running order. Find out why and much more…

 

 J Leckie chat Pt3 [19:28m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this the second fascinating installment, Andy and legendary Dukes producer John Leckie talk about the inspiration behind the 25 O’clock  recordings.  How they were done, and what went into achieving that unique Dukes sound, through the phasing and editing on different tracks and bits of different records being spun in when the songs were mixed.

Also they reveal the truth behind the long held rumour that it was Woody Allens little angry voice at the end of ‘My Love Explodes’.

 

 john leckie interview pt2 [20:12m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Listen to the first colourful installment of a multi part series of chats between Andy Partridge and legendary producer John Leckie, or Sir John Johns and Swami Anand Nagara to give them their Dukes of Stratosphear nom de psyches.

In the first part John talks of the run up to producing 25 Oclock and includes tales of his early years in the industry. Strap yourself in securely as you’re in for a bumpy ride. You’ll hear of kissing sheep, recording an addled Syd, the joy of getting fired and many more kaleidoscopic stories to warm the cockles of your liquid light show projector.

The expanded remastered versions of 25 Oclock and Psonic Psunspot are released on Ape on 20th April BUY

 

 john leckie interview pt1 [22:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download