Description
XTC – Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2) – 200 Gram Vinyl Record
A Guitar-Driven Finale from One of Britain’s Most Inventive Bands
Released on 23 May 2000, Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2) is the fourteenth and final studio album by the legendary English rock band XTC, known for their innovative approach to pop and rock that blended witty lyricism, sharp melodies, and adventurous musical ideas. Following the lush orchestral textures of Apple Venus Volume 1 (1999), Wasp Star acted as its energetic counterpoint, returning to the guitar-driven sound that had been a cornerstone of the band’s identity since the late 1970s. Where its predecessor leaned heavily into chamber pop and orchestration, Wasp Star is rawer, more direct, and full of the vibrant hooks that made XTC one of the most beloved cult bands of their era. It’s an album that feels like both a nod to the past and a bold closing statement to a career defined by fearless experimentation.
The background of Wasp Star is deeply tied to the broader Apple Venus project. Originally conceived as a double album, financial and creative challenges led to the decision to split the material into two separate records. Apple Venus Volume 1 showcased XTC’s ambition with orchestral arrangements and introspective songwriting, while Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2) provided the “guitar half” of the project. By this time, XTC was operating as a studio-only band, having ceased touring in 1982 due to Andy Partridge’s stage fright. The group had also slimmed down to its core duo of Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding following the departure of guitarist Dave Gregory during the recording of Volume 1. Despite these obstacles, Wasp Star demonstrated that Partridge and Moulding still had the fire to create engaging, sharp, and deeply melodic pop-rock songs that held true to their legacy.
Wasp Star embraces the energy of power pop, jangly alternative rock, and witty new wave–inspired hooks, harking back to the spirit of albums like Drums and Wires (1979) and Skylarking (1986), but with a late-career maturity. The record thrives on tight guitar riffs, clever lyrics, and playful melodies, reflecting Partridge’s eccentric songwriting style alongside Moulding’s warm, reflective contributions. Thematically, the album deals with love, lust, memory, and the absurdities of human relationships, often presented with XTC’s signature mix of irony, humor, and sincerity. The stripped-down production highlights the songs’ immediacy, making them feel like classic XTC tracks in the best sense.
The album kicks off with “Playground,” a jangly pop anthem that compares adulthood to the cruel lessons of childhood, delivering both biting wit and irresistible hooks. “Stupidly Happy,” built around a hypnotic, looping guitar riff, is one of the most joyful and infectious tracks in the band’s catalog, a tongue-in-cheek celebration of love’s giddy simplicity. Colin Moulding’s “In Another Life” offers a whimsical, heartfelt exploration of love across imagined alternate realities, while his “Boarded Up” carries a melancholy tone, using the imagery of abandoned buildings as a metaphor for loneliness and loss. “My Brown Guitar” brings cheeky innuendo and playful humor, showcasing Partridge’s gift for mixing clever wordplay with catchy melodies.
Elsewhere, tracks like “I’m the Man Who Murdered Love” lean into sardonic humor, as Partridge sings of the futility of trying to kill romance, supported by a bouncy, sing-along arrangement. “You and the Clouds Will Still Be Beautiful” offers soulful optimism, delivering a message about resilience and the permanence of beauty in the world even in the face of hardship. “Church of Women” takes on a more reverent and lush tone, essentially a devotional love song to femininity, while “Wounded Horse” stands out as one of Partridge’s darkest compositions on the record, with bluesy undertones expressing heartbreak and despair. The album closes with “The Wheel and the Maypole,” a stunning track that fuses themes of love, mortality, and renewal, serving as both a celebration of life’s cyclical nature and a fitting finale to XTC’s studio career. It remains one of the band’s most profound and musically inventive songs.
Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2) was met with positive reviews, though it was often overshadowed by the grand artistic ambition of Apple Venus Volume 1. Critics praised its return to guitar-driven pop and its witty songwriting, though some noted it lacked the bold experimentation of its predecessor. Fans, however, embraced it as a fun, hook-filled record that captured the playful, melodic side of XTC while still delivering moments of depth and poignancy. Commercially, the album performed modestly, consistent with XTC’s cult status, but its true impact lies in its role as a satisfying swan song for one of Britain’s most inventive bands.
In terms of legacy, Wasp Star is significant not only as the last XTC studio album but also as a reminder of their remarkable ability to combine intelligence, wit, and pop craftsmanship. Together with Apple Venus Volume 1, it represents the duality at the heart of XTC: one half experimental and orchestral, the other playful and guitar-driven. While Volume 1 is often hailed as the more ambitious artistic statement, Wasp Star is treasured for its immediacy, charm, and energy. It serves as both a love letter to long-time fans who missed XTC’s guitar-driven sound and a closing chapter that reaffirmed their brilliance.
XTC – Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2) (2000) is a vibrant, witty, and guitar-focused album that brings the band’s extraordinary career to a close on a high note. With standout tracks like “Playground,” “Stupidly Happy,” “I’m the Man Who Murdered Love,” and “The Wheel and the Maypole,” the album showcases XTC’s enduring strengths in songwriting, melody, and lyrical cleverness. For fans of alternative rock, power pop, and intelligent British songwriting, Wasp Star is an essential listen that captures the essence of XTC’s artistry and stands as a fitting finale to one of the most inventive bands of the post-punk era.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Playground
Stupidly Happy
In Another Life
My Brown Guitar
Boarded Up
I’m The Man Who Murdered Love
We’re All Light
Standing In For Joe
Wounded Horse
You And The Clouds Will Still Be Beautiful
Church Of Women
The Wheel And The Maypole
