Psurroundabout Ride

Between 1980 and 1989 XTC wrote, recorded and released a series of albums from "Black Sea" to "Oranges & Lemons" that cemented the band’s reputation as songwriters and recording artists almost without parallel in the UK. They may not be as famous as other bands of the era, but, to many of those with discerning ears, they’re rated among the very best, the select few who rise above their contemporaries…

As if 6 stellar albums in 10 years including 2 double LP's wasn’t enough, the band also issued 2 albums under completely different names as The Dukes Of Stratosphear, an unashamedly psychedelic ensemble which phased and flanged in and out of existence in 1985 and 1987 respectively.

In 2019, "Psurroundabout Ride" was released on CD + BluRay gathering all of the Dukes’ material including the original stereo mixes, new 2019 Steven Wilson 5.1 and stereo mixes of the albums and the additional recordings of "Open A Can Of Human Beans", "Black Jewelled Serpent Of Sound" and "Tin Toy Clockwork Train" along with demos of "25 O’Clock" and "Psonic Psunspot".

Now in 2026 Steven Wilson has once again worked his magic to create a 3 dimensional Atmos audio mix that brings out all the delightful intricacies in detail. While the original psychedelic era was born of the possibilities inherent in stereo but, ironically, mostly heard via mono radios at the time and XTC’s 80's return to that genre capitalised on all the studio progress made in stereo recording over the preceding 2 decades, The Dukes’ output proved very well suited to the 5.1 surround sound environment in 2019.

However, the combination of the strength of the original material and recordings, and the possibilities of Atmos, combined with Steven Wilson’s love of the material and experience as a mixer of Atmos releases, take the material several trips further into the audio cosmos. The musical experimentation of the mid 1960's as reimagined by XTC in the 1980's, may finally have found its ultimate listening mode in the technology of the 2020's. As Jefferson Airplane put it, “Feed Your Head”!

"XTC As Dukes Of Stratosphear : The Complete Recordings" now mixed for Dolby Atmos with audio from the original multi track studio master tapes by Steven Wilson and approved by XTC

2026 edition with CD featuring the 2019 stereo mix of both "25 O’Clock" and "Psonic Psunspot" + 2 extra tracks and BluRay with 2026 Dolby Atmos mix plus 2019 5.1 surround sound, 2019 stereo mixes by Steven Wilson, plus the original stereo mix and the complete demos from both albums in hi-res stereo.

A.P.E. Records, September 25th, 2026.