[tweetmeme]By all appearances, XTC’s 1989 album Oranges and Lemons is next up in the band’s current series of audiophile reissues, as bandleader Andy Partridge has been tweeting in recent weeks about work on the 5.1 Surround mix, including an attempt today at Abbey Road Studios to transfer the baked album tapes that were found “in a very bad way.”
Partridge initiated the new XTC reissue series last year with a new edition of 1992′s Nonsuch, followed, this past September, by a reissue of 1979′s Drums and Wires. In both cases, the reissues (on CD and Blu-ray) came with new 5.1 Surround and stereo mixes by Porcupine Tree frontman Steven Wilson, plus various bonus tracks, including B-sides and demos.
On Nov. 14, Partridge began tweeting about Oranges and Lemons, saying he’d just been told the multi-track tapes are “in a very bad way.” He followed that with, “Fingers and eyes crossed,they are going to ‘bake’ them and see what can be done.Then there’s the ones covered in mould {not Moulding}.”
Last week, Partridge noted that he was sorting and mixing demos by himself and Colin Moulding for the reissue. Then, this morning, he tweeted: “Today Abbey Road are trying a transfer of all baked ORANGES AND LEMONS tapes. Here’s hoping that all goes well and nothing is ruined.”
Fingers crossed.
Just heard that the multitrack tapes for ORANGES are in “a very bad way”??!! What!!,come on,the 1 thing you have to do is look after tapes
— XTC (@xtcfans) November 14, 2014
Fingers and eyes crossed,they are going to ‘bake’ them and see what can be done.Then there’s the ones covered in mould {not Moulding}.
— XTC (@xtcfans) November 14, 2014
Hopefully sorting and mixing my and Colin’s demos for ORANGES AND LEMONS 5.1 pack on Friday.
— XTC (@xtcfans) November 19, 2014
Demos did not get mixed as my old ADAT machine would not function.Power problem,calls to techs,day turns out differently. — XTC (@xtcfans) November 21, 2014
Old ADAT fixed,good day transferring /mixing my and Colin’s demos for 5.1 pack of ORANGES AND LEMONS. — XTC (@xtcfans) November 28, 2014
Today Abbey Road are trying a transfer of all baked ORANGES AND LEMONS tapes. Here’s hoping that all goes well and nothing is ruined.
— XTC (@xtcfans) December 1, 2014
