Psonic Psunspot Explained

Psonic Psunspot
Type:album
Artist:the Dukes of Stratosphear
Cover:Dukes of Stratosphear PsonicPsunspot.jpg
Released:August 1987
Recorded:June 1987
Studio:Sawmills, Fowey, Cornwall
Genre:
Length:35:44
Label:Virgin
Producer:John Leckie, The Dukes
Chronology:XTC
Prev Title:Skylarking
Prev Year:1986
Next Title:Oranges & Lemons
Next Year:1989

Psonic Psunspot is the second album by English rock band the Dukes of Stratosphear, released in 1987. Also counted as XTC's tenth studio album, it is a follow-up to 25 O'Clock (1985).

In 2002, the website Pitchfork listed the album at 66 on their "Top 100 Albums of the 1980s", calling the songs "a surreal rock-opera of opaque, hallucinogenic wonder".

Music

Some of its tracks were rejected XTC songs ("Shiny Cage", "Little Lighthouse", and "You're My Drug").[3] Like the previous album 25 O'Clock, this album is inspired by 1960s psychedelia.

Release

The album was released in its original form on vinyl and cassette, accompanied with the "You're A Good Man Albert Brown" single and the promotional-only "Vanishing Girl" single. A simultaneous CD release entitled Chips from the Chocolate Fireball incorporated all of the tracks from 25 O'Clock and Psonic Psunspot with different packaging. Later, a remastered and expanded version of Psonic Psunspot was released on 20 April 2009 by Andy Partridge's Ape House record label. This edition is credited to "XTC as The Dukes of Stratosphear".

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Andy Partridge, except where noted.

Also includes the promotional video for "You're a Good Man Albert Brown (Curse You Red Barrel)" as a QuickTime file.

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Grimstad. Paul. What is Avant-Pop?. Brooklyn Rail. 1 October 2016.
  2. Book: Segretto, Mike. 33 1/3 Revolutions Per Minute - A Critical Trip Through the Rock LP Era, 1955–1999. 2022. 1987. 460-462. Backbeat. 9781493064601.
  3. Williams. Harvey S.. Strange Things Are Happening. 1988.