English Settlement

English Settlement
Studio album by XTC
Released	12 February 1982
Recorded	October–November 1981 at The Manor, Shipton-on-Cherwell, Oxfordshire, England
Genre	New Wave, Alternative rock
Length	72:22
Label	Virgin Records
Producer	Hugh Padgham, XTC
XTC chronology
Black Sea (1980) English Settlement (1982) Mummer (1983)
Singles from English Settlement
"Senses Working Overtime" Released: January 1982 "Ball and Chain" Released: February 1982 "No Thugs In Our House" Released: May 1982

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Pitchfork	(10.0/10) [2]
Q	[3]
Robert Christgau	(B+) [4]
Rolling Stone	[5]
Piero Scaruffi	7/10[6]

English Settlement is the fifth studio album by the English band XTC, released on 12 February 1982. The album reached No. 5 on the UK Album Chart and No. 48 on the Billboard 200 album chart.^[7]

Arguably XTC's defining album, English Settlement is a significant milestone of the band's ability as musicians and songwriters. Some prevalent lyrical themes include the preservation of buildings, world peace, youthful rebellion, and the frustrations of love.

Album information

The Uffington White Horse.

The cover design is based upon the Uffington White Horse in southwest Oxfordshire, which is about 8 miles east of Swindon, Wiltshire, XTC's home town.

The album spawned three UK singles: "Senses Working Overtime" (released on 8 January 1982 and reaching No. 10 on the UK singles chart); "Ball And Chain" (released 26 February 1982 and reaching No. 58 on the UK singles chart); and "No Thugs in Our House" (released 14 May 1982).

The album was previewed with a live performance on The Old Grey Whistle Test program in January where they performed "Yacht Dance" (their only performance of the song) and "No Thugs In Our House". They also made a live appearance on The Oxford Road Show performing "Snowman", "Ball And Chain" and "Jason And The Argonauts". The song "English Roundabout" was inspired by a Swindon landmark known as The Magic Roundabout. This song is a rare example of popular music written in the unusual 5/4 time signature.

The band made promotional videos for "Senses Working Overtime", "No Thugs In Our House", "All Of A Sudden (It's Too Late)" and "Ball And Chain".

Only nine full shows were performed on the proposed 1982 English Settlement World Tour due to Partridge's collapsing at Le Palace in Paris, France on 18 March (during the first song in their set) and subsequent breakdown after their performance at The California Theatre, San Diego, California, U.S.A. on 3 April. This would prove to be XTC's last show as a touring band.

English Settlement is the last XTC album recorded while Terry Chambers was still a full member, although Chambers did appear on a few tracks of Mummer. The band's retirement from the road, caused by Partridge's nervous breakdown, meant that he could no longer make money as the band's drummer, only as a guest performer.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding.

UK LP: V 2223

Initial U.S. track listing

A 1-LP version was initially released in the United States on Virgin/Epic Records. Five songs were removed for this release ("Yacht Dance" 3:56, "Leisure" 5:32, "Knuckle Down" 4:28, "Fly on the Wall" 3:19, "Down in the Cockpit" 5:27).

Side 1

1. "Runaways" (Moulding)
2. "Ball and Chain" (Moulding)
3. "Senses Working Overtime"
4. "Jason and the Argonauts"
5. "Snowman"

Side 2

1. "Melt the Guns"
2. "No Thugs in Our House"
3. "It's Nearly Africa"
4. "English Roundabout" (Moulding)
5. "All of a Sudden (It's Too Late)"

1-LP worldwide version

Released in much of the world in 1982.

Side 1

1. "Runaways" (Moulding)
2. "Ball and Chain" (Moulding)
3. "Senses Working Overtime"
4. "Jason and the Argonauts"
5. "Snowman"

Side 2

1. "Melt the Guns"
2. "No Thugs in Our House"
3. "Yacht Dance"
4. "English Roundabout" (Moulding)
5. "All of a Sudden (It's Too Late)"

Personnel

• Colin Moulding - lead vocals, backing vocals, fretless bass, Fender bass, mini-Korg, piano, percussion
• Andy Partridge - lead vocals, backing vocals, electric guitar, semi-acoustic electric 12-string guitar, semi-acoustic electric guitar, acoustic guitar, mini-Korg, Prophet V, anklung, alto sax, percussion, frog
• Dave Gregory - electric 12-string guitar, electric guitars, nylon-string Spanish guitar, semi-acoustic electric 12-string guitar, Prophet V, mini-Korg, backing vocals, percussion, piano
• Terry Chambers - drums, drum synthesiser, percussion, backing vocals

with:

• Hugh Padgham - backing vocals on "Ball and Chain"
• Hans de Vente - backing vocals on "It's Nearly Africa"

References