Skylarking

by XTC

Skylarking cover art

Producer Todd Rundgren shaped 'Skylarking' into a lush, pastoral work of 1960s-influenced psychedelic pop, weaving together dense orchestral arrangements and an organic soundscape that belied the often-tense recording sessions. The album functions as a loose song cycle exploring the seasons and the phases of life, merging Andy Partridgeā€™s sophisticated songwriting with Colin Mouldingā€™s melodic contributions into a seamless whole. Initially met with indifference in the UK, the album's fortunes changed when the US B-side "Dear God" became a controversial college radio hit, cementing 'Skylarking' as one of XTC's most critically acclaimed and enduring recordings.

Genres

  • Psychedelic Pop
  • Pop Rock

Tracklist

  1. Summer's Cauldron
  2. Grass
  3. The Meeting Place
  4. That's Really Super, Supergirl
  5. Ballet For A Rainy Day
  6. 1000 Umbrellas
  7. Season Cycle
  8. Earn Enough For Us
  9. Big Day
  10. Another Satellite
  11. Mermaid Smiled
  12. The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul
  13. Dying
  14. Sacrificial Bonfire
  15. Dear God