Towers of London – XTC (1980)

Description

Additional information about this XTC vinyl art.

XTC – The Artists

XTC were an English rock band formed in Swindon in 1972. Fronted by songwriters Andy Partridge (vocals, guitars) and Colin Moulding (vocals, bass), the band gained popularity during the rise of punk and new wave in the 1970s, later playing in a variety of styles that ranged from angular guitar riffs to elaborately arranged pop. Partly because the group did not fit into contemporary trends, they achieved only sporadic commercial success in the UK and US, but attracted a considerable cult following. They have since been recognised for their influence on post-punk, Britpop and later power pop acts. In 1977, the group debuted on Virgin Records and were subsequently noted for their energetic live performances and their refusal to play conventional punk rock, instead synthesising influences from ska, 1960s pop, dub music and avant-garde. The single “Making Plans for Nigel” (1979) marked their commercial breakthrough and heralded the reverberating drum sound associated with 1980s popular music. Between 1979 and 1992, XTC had a total of 10 albums and 6 singles that reached the UK top 40, including “Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)” (1980) and “Senses Working Overtime” (1982).

Towers of London – The Song

‘Towers of London’ is a song written by Andy Partridge of the English rock band XTC, released as the second single from their 1980 album Black Sea. It peaked at number 31 on the UK Singles Chart. The BBC-2 documentary XTC at the Manor featured the group recording the song in the studio. Partridge later reflected that he may have been “subconsciously” trying to rewrite the Beatles’ “Rain”, desiring “clangorous guitars crashing together, and sort of droning.” The night after John Lennon was killed, XTC played a gig at Liverpool, where they performed both “Towers of London” and “Rain” in tribute to the Beatle.

The Tower of London – The Shape

This record has been cut into the silhouette  of the Tower of London. The Tower of London, officially His Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, which is separated from the eastern edge of the square mile of the City of London by the open space known as Tower Hill. It was founded toward the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest. The White Tower, which gives the entire castle its name, was built by William the Conqueror in 1078 and was initially a resented symbol of oppression, inflicted upon London by the new Norman ruling class. The castle was also used as a prison from 1100 (Ranulf Flambard) until 1952 (Kray twins), although that was not its primary purpose. A grand palace early in its history, it served as a royal residence. As a whole, the Tower is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat. There were several phases of expansion, mainly under kings Richard I, Henry III, and Edward I in the 12th and 13th centuries. The general layout established by the late 13th century remains despite later activity on the site.

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