I think I became an XTC fan at just the right time. Right after I had completed the majority of my collection of their older albums, they made a comeback with this excellent release, which ranks among their best. The sound this time is lush and pastoral (somewhat reminiscent of the earlier Skylarking (Why doesn't this format allow italics?), with many full orchestral arrangements. The best tracks tend to be the ones that fit the basic theme of the record, such as "Green Man," "River Of Orchids," "Harvest Festival," and "Easter Theatre," although there are also some interesting diversions, such as Colin Moulding's pun-filled "Fruit Nut," and Andy Partridge's catchy love song, "I'd Like That." It's not a perfect record; "Knights In Shining Karma" is somewhat dull, "Your Dictionary" doesn't really work, and I haven't entirely grown into "I Can't Own Her." Overall, though, it's an excellent album, and a great comeback for XTC.

XTC have always written intelligent and edgy pop. What's really surprising is how long they've actually been around. When their song "Dear God" shocked the airwaves in the 1980s many thought "what a great new band!" Of course most of us virulent fans know that XTC has been around since the punk era. How they've logarthimically expanded musically is evident on Apple Venus Volume 1.

This was to be Andy Partridge's unplugged orchestra album. Sometime in the 1990s he admitted that he was miffed that Elvis Costello (i.e., his "Juliet Letters") beat him to his goal of an all orchestra album. Undaunted, and on strike from Virgin Records, the project stayed afloat, however tenuously (XTC did not have an active record label through most of the 1990s, which is astonishing). Miraculously, at the cusp of the new millenium, a new XTC album appeared sporting a new contract with a sparkly new label. It had been a long constipated wait since 1992's "Nonesuch", but the wait was ultimately worth it.

Volume 1 of the Apple Venus diptych is the mellower more beautiful of the two volumes. "Wasp Star" or Volume 2, is where the amplifiers and distortion come out to play with our auditory canals.

Strings and acoustic guitars abound here. "River of Orchids" - a lusty utopian dream of no cars no pavement walk on hands into town - begins the album with a single "plop". This plop segues into a rhythm which is joined by a trumpety sound which is joined by other instruments all accompanied by Partridge's self-harmonized vocals. "I'd Like That" - a lusty dream of a more salicious and delicious sort - bangs in the acoustic instruments and innuendos. These two songs set the tone for the album brilliantly. Images of spring, growing things (some unmentionable without the filter of a metaphor), and verdant meadows abound throughout most of the album. "Green Man" outright evokes the Anglo-Saxon/early British god of greenery and growth. Even "Your Dictionary" - a scalding and scathing elegy to divorce - ends on a hopeful note which also suggests growth of a different kind. In the end we ride away in "The Last Balloon" unencumbered by the frivolities of our modern consumer world. It's a great lush ride from beginning to end.

One thing interrupts the ride. Colin Moulding's songs are pretty downbeat thematically, and not amongst his best tunes or lyrics. They even seem a little out of place here, but not to an egregious extent. Colin makes up for this in droves on Apple Venus Volume 2 (he contributes far more than 2 songs there, and he would probably even agree that they're better).

By far the biggest bummer about Apple Venus Volume 1 is the departure of Dave Gregory, an XTC member since "Drums And Wires". He is credited along with other "musicians" under the CD, but the XTC band photo is down to two lonely people. Luckily, XTC will likely survive this rift (though there's still no new album some 3-4 years later).

Apple Venus is arguably one of XTC's best. It's closer to "Skylarking" than anything else they've done. But if you're looking for XTC in rock-your-drawers-off mode, don't look here. Look to Volume Two.

Mmmm... What a glorious feeling. From the first water-droplet sound on this album, I knew we had a winner. This album is magical, a tribute to nature, reminiscent of the fantastic Skylarking. It falters only on the songs written by Colin Moulding, which seem to me to belong on another album entirely. Other than that this album is a cohesive, brilliant whole. Fantastic.

Let's face it, XTC should be a clapped-out punk band that no one remembers. I think their last (and only?) hit was only just in the 1980's. Why do so many people care enough to write a review? Probably because XTC have talent, intellect and touching lyrics.

I like the album. It doesn't pretend to be Britpop or Portishead. It continues and extends the sounds and themes of their last 20+ years ... and does it well.

Memo to XTC: can the next one please come sooner?

Thank heavens they're back, even if it is with a record produced by what sounds suspiciously like XTC-lite. This a gentle quirky record with a handful of excellent songs, not fantastically memorable, but shows the magic isn't quite dead