Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Working with producer Todd Rundgren didn't necessarily bring XTC a sense of sonic cohesion -- after all, every record since English Settlement followed its own interior logic -- but it did help the group sharpen its focus, making Skylarking its tightest record since Drums and Wires. Ironically, Skylarking had little to do with new wave and everything to do with the lush, post-psychedelic pop of the Beatles and Beach Boys. Combining the charming pastoral feel of Mummer with the classicist English pop of The Big Express, XTC expand their signature sound by enhancing their intelligently melodic pop with graceful, lyrical arrangements and sweeping, detailed instrumentation. Rundgren may have devised the sequencing, helping the record feel like a song cycle even if it doesn't play like one, but what really impresses is the consistency and depth of Andy Partridge's and Colin Moulding's songs. Each song is a small gem, marrying sweet, catchy melodies to decidedly adult lyrical themes, from celebrations of love ("Grass") and marriage ("Big Day") to skepticism about maturation ("Earn Enough for Us") and religion ("Dear God"). Moulding's songs complement Partridge's songs better than before, and each writer is at a melodic and lyrical peak, which Rundgren helps convey with his supple production. The result is a pop masterpiece -- an album that has great ambitions and fulfills them with ease. The initial release of Skylarking didn't feature "Dear God," which was originally the B-side of "Grass." After "Dear God" became an unexpected hit, "Mermaid Smile" was pulled from the album so the hit single could be added.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From 12.49€/month
Andy Partridge, Guitar, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Todd Rundgren, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Partridge, Composer - XTC, MainArtist - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Gregory, Keyboards, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Prairie Prince, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - George Cowan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - colin ivor moulding, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kim Foscato, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2001 Virgin Records Limited
Andy Partridge, Guitar, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Todd Rundgren, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - XTC, MainArtist - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Gregory, Keyboards, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Prairie Prince, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - George Cowan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - colin ivor moulding, Composer, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kim Foscato, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2001 Virgin Records Limited
Andy Partridge, Guitar, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Todd Rundgren, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - XTC, MainArtist - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Gregory, Keyboards, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Prairie Prince, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - George Cowan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - colin ivor moulding, Composer, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kim Foscato, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2001 Virgin Records Limited
Andy Partridge, Guitar, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Todd Rundgren, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Partridge, Composer - XTC, MainArtist - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Gregory, Keyboards, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Prairie Prince, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - George Cowan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - colin ivor moulding, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kim Foscato, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2001 Virgin Records Limited
Andy Partridge, Guitar, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Todd Rundgren, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Partridge, Composer - XTC, MainArtist - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Gregory, Keyboards, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Prairie Prince, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - George Cowan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - colin ivor moulding, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kim Foscato, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2001 Virgin Records Limited
Andy Partridge, Guitar, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Todd Rundgren, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Partridge, Composer - XTC, MainArtist - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Gregory, Keyboards, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Prairie Prince, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - George Cowan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - colin ivor moulding, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kim Foscato, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2001 Virgin Records Limited
Andy Partridge, Guitar, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Todd Rundgren, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Partridge, Composer - XTC, MainArtist - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Gregory, Keyboards, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Prairie Prince, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - George Cowan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - colin ivor moulding, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kim Foscato, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2001 Virgin Records Limited
Andy Partridge, Guitar, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Todd Rundgren, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Partridge, Composer - XTC, MainArtist - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Gregory, Keyboards, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Prairie Prince, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - George Cowan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - colin ivor moulding, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kim Foscato, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2001 Virgin Records Limited
Andy Partridge, Guitar, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Todd Rundgren, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - XTC, MainArtist - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Gregory, Keyboards, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Prairie Prince, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - George Cowan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - colin ivor moulding, Composer, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kim Foscato, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2001 Virgin Records Limited
Andy Partridge, Guitar, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Todd Rundgren, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Partridge, Composer - XTC, MainArtist - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Gregory, Keyboards, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Prairie Prince, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - George Cowan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - colin ivor moulding, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kim Foscato, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2001 Virgin Records Limited
Andy Partridge, Guitar, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Todd Rundgren, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Partridge, Composer - XTC, MainArtist - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Gregory, Keyboards, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Prairie Prince, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - George Cowan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - colin ivor moulding, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kim Foscato, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2001 Virgin Records Limited
Andy Partridge, Guitar, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Todd Rundgren, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Partridge, Composer - XTC, MainArtist - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Gregory, Keyboards, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Prairie Prince, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - George Cowan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - colin ivor moulding, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kim Foscato, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2001 Virgin Records Limited
Andy Partridge, Guitar, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Todd Rundgren, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - XTC, MainArtist - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Gregory, Keyboards, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Prairie Prince, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - George Cowan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - colin ivor moulding, Composer, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kim Foscato, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2001 Virgin Records Limited
Andy Partridge, Guitar, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Todd Rundgren, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - XTC, MainArtist - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Gregory, Keyboards, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Prairie Prince, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - George Cowan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - colin ivor moulding, Composer, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kim Foscato, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2001 Virgin Records Limited
Andy Partridge, Guitar, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Todd Rundgren, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - XTC, MainArtist - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Gregory, Keyboards, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Prairie Prince, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - George Cowan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - colin ivor moulding, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kim Foscato, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2001 Virgin Records Limited
Album review
Working with producer Todd Rundgren didn't necessarily bring XTC a sense of sonic cohesion -- after all, every record since English Settlement followed its own interior logic -- but it did help the group sharpen its focus, making Skylarking its tightest record since Drums and Wires. Ironically, Skylarking had little to do with new wave and everything to do with the lush, post-psychedelic pop of the Beatles and Beach Boys. Combining the charming pastoral feel of Mummer with the classicist English pop of The Big Express, XTC expand their signature sound by enhancing their intelligently melodic pop with graceful, lyrical arrangements and sweeping, detailed instrumentation. Rundgren may have devised the sequencing, helping the record feel like a song cycle even if it doesn't play like one, but what really impresses is the consistency and depth of Andy Partridge's and Colin Moulding's songs. Each song is a small gem, marrying sweet, catchy melodies to decidedly adult lyrical themes, from celebrations of love ("Grass") and marriage ("Big Day") to skepticism about maturation ("Earn Enough for Us") and religion ("Dear God"). Moulding's songs complement Partridge's songs better than before, and each writer is at a melodic and lyrical peak, which Rundgren helps convey with his supple production. The result is a pop masterpiece -- an album that has great ambitions and fulfills them with ease. The initial release of Skylarking didn't feature "Dear God," which was originally the B-side of "Grass." After "Dear God" became an unexpected hit, "Mermaid Smile" was pulled from the album so the hit single could be added.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 15 track(s)
- Total length: 00:49:22
- Main artists: XTC
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: UMC (Universal Music Catalogue)
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock Punk / New Wave
© 2001 Virgin Records Limited ℗ 2001 Virgin Records Limited
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.