The Dukes of Stratosphear – Reissues of the year?

Probably not – that accolade is more than likely going to go to the massive Beatles reissue campaign in September. That will be an event.

But, the fab four aside, there will be a couple of CDs coming out next week that will probably be ignored by many, but get that accolade from me. I implore you (I don’t implore often, trust me) to purchase the two albums by The Dukes of Stratosphear that are being reissued with demos and extra tracks. 25 O’Clock (officially a mini-album on release in 1985) and Psonic Psunspot (the full-length album from 1987) were previously released together on one CD in the early 1990’s as Chips from the Chocolate Fireball: An Anthology but this is the first time that they are getting proper separate releases with original artwork.

For those that aren’t aware, The Dukes were the psychedelic alter ego of XTC and far from being a pastiche or humorous take on that golden era of music from about 1966 – 1969, it was a homage. XTC were highly competent musicians and tackled a variety of psychedelic styles with gusto. They also took on pseudonyms (is there a better psyche name than E.I.E.I Owen?) and dressed accordingly. An interesting footnote for Stone Roses fans out there – the rumour goes that the band loved the sound of the Dukes so much it got John Leckie, who produced both Dukes albums, the production job on their first album. The albums are fabulous – it’s spot the band time, with everyone from The Beatles, through The Beach Boys and Pink Floyd lovingly and respectfully reproduced – but the songs stand up on their own.

Psychedelia was the music that fired XTC and you can almost smell the fun that they had making them.

Go buy them, you won’t be disappointed.