XTC announce Skylarking reissue with new Dolby Atmos mix from Steven Wilson

(Image credit: Ape House/Panegyric)

XTC's 1986 album Skylarking is to be reissued on CD and Blu-ray and, for the first time, on 200g heavyweight vinyl through Ape House/Panegyric Records on September 27.

The album is the second of the band's reissues to feature a new Dolby Atmos remix from Steven Wilson (1984's The Big Express was reissued last year) from the original multi-track studio master tapes.

The CD/Blu-ray also features the 2016 album mix as well as bonus album track mixes, also by Wilson and is presented in replica mini-vinyl style packaging with booklet including photos and album lyrics. The vinyl version comes presented in a gatefold sleeve with lyrics inside and features the 2016 Steven Wilson mix.

Skylarking was recorded by Andy Partridge, Colin Moulding and Dave Gregory with Tubes member Prairie Prince filling in on drums, and was a concept album of sorts, about a nonspecific cycle, such as a day, a year, the seasons, or a life. The album was produced by Todd Rundgren. Rumours of tension between Partridge and Rundgren were rife.

The album's major hit, Dear God, was originally left off the album, forcing Geffen Records to pull the original and reissue the album with the track included. The 2010 reissue featured Partidge's original idea for the album sleeve. You can view both of these below.

Pre-order Skylarking.

XTC: Skylarking tracklist

1. Summer's Cauldron
2. Grass
3. The Meeting Place
4. That's Really Super, Supergirl
5. Ballet for a Rainy Day
6. 1000 Umbrellas
7. Season Cycle
8. Earn Enough for Us
9. Big Day
10. Another Satellite
11. Mermaid Smiled
12. The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul
13. Dear God
14. Dying
15.Sacrificial Bonfire

+ Additional Tracks
16. Extrovert
17. Let’s Make a Den
18. Little Lighthouse
19. The Troubles

Writer and broadcaster Jerry Ewing is the Editor of Prog Magazine which he founded for Future Publishing in 2009. He grew up in Sydney and began his writing career in London for Metal Forces magazine in 1989. He has since written for Metal Hammer, Maxim, Vox, Stuff and Bizarre magazines, among others. He created and edited Classic Rock Magazine for Dennis Publishing in 1998 and is the author of a variety of books on both music and sport, including Wonderous Stories; A Journey Through The Landscape Of Progressive Rock.