XTC / Drums and Wires CD+Blu-ray

The long-awaited reissue of XTC‘s 1979 album Drums And Wires has been announced, and like the Nonsuch deluxe release from 2013, the two-disc sets (CD+Blu-ray and CD+DVD-A) will offer a massive amount of extra audio and visual material, including new 5.1 surround and stereo mixes.

Exact details of the track listing haven’t yet been confirmed, but the CD will feature a new Steven Wilson stereo mix plus six additional singles and non-album tracks. The (region free, NTSC) blu-ray audio will contain the original mix and new stereo mix in 24bit/96khz LPCM along with the hi-res 5.1 mix (again, by Steven Wilson). 

The blu-ray will also come with instrumental stereo mixes, five demo sessions and ‘numerous’ other stereo and 5.1 tracks (including Chain of Command and Limelight) as well as the promo films for the singles Making Plans for Nigel and Life Begins At The Hop.

*Update: Steven Wilson got in touch with SDE to confirm that the blu-ray features a total of 117 tracks (!), which breaks down as follows:

• New stereo mix = 12 tracks
• Original stereo mix = 12 tracks
• Instrumental mixes = 12 tracks
• 5.1 mix = 12 tracks
• Bonus tracks new stereo mixes = 11 tracks
• Bonus tracks 5.1 = 11 tracks
• Demo session 1 = 6 tracks
• Demo session 2 = 4 tracks
• Demo session 3 = 4 tracks
• Demo session 4 = 4 tracks
• Rehearsal tape = 20 tracks
• DJM re-recordings = 3 tracks
• Various original alternate mixes = 4 tracks
• Promo videos = 2 track

All the new Steven Wilson mixes have been created with the input of founder band member Andy Partridge and the full approval of the band. Andy Partridge, Colin Moulding and Dave Gregory all contribute sleeve notes to the booklet.

The CD+DVD-A version will be similar to the CD+Blu-ray although not quite as generous since the format doesn’t offer the same capacity as the blu-ray audio. The instrumental mixes are missing from the DVD which also only comes with seven (rather than ‘numerous’) bonus tracks, all of which are stereo-only.

Drums and Wires is released on Andy Patridge’s APE label on 27 October 2014. The official online store is BurningShed.com where you will get postcards signed by Andy with all pre-orders.

Pre-order via Burning Shed (with signed postcard)

• • Pre-order Drums and Wires via Burning Shed

Pre-order via Amazon

• • Amazon UK Order: Drums & Wires CD+Blu-ray
• • USA Order: Drums & Wires CD+Blu-ray

CD 

1) Making Plans For Nigel 
2) Helicopter 
3) Day In Day Out 
4) When You’re Near Me I Have Difficulty 
5) Ten Feet Tall 
6) Roads Girdle the Globe 
7) Real By Reel 
8) Millions 
9) That Is The Way 
10) Outside World 
11) Scissor Man 
12) Complicated Game 

+ bonus tracks (full details to be confirmed as soon as possible) 

Blu-Ray (Region 0, NTSC): 

Presented in 24bit/96khz LPCM Audio 

Album mixed in 5.1 Surround 
– Steven Wilson stereo mix and original album mix in High Resolution stereo. 

Blu-Ray exclusive material includes: 

Numerous additional stereo and 5.1 tracks, new stereo album instrumental mixes, 5 demo sessions and promo films for the singles Making Plans for Nigel and Life Begins At The Hop.