Search - Andy Partridge :: Fuzzy Warbles 5: Demo Archives

Occasionally great, occasionally thin demo album

Wayne Klein | My Little Blue Window, USA | 12/28/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Fuzzy" isn't quite as fuzzy as he was. The fifth volume of "Fuzzy Warbles" the demo series XTC leader Andy Partridge has been releasing over the last couple of years has some inspired gems but it also demonstrates (as volume 6 proves) that the material is getting pretty thin for the "new" material. Opening with a different rollicking version of "Young Cleopatra" from the Jules Verne limited edition album Partridge put together for fans, "I Defy Gravity", "Ice Age Kiss" and the brilliant also-ran for "Apple Venus Volume One" "My Land is Burning" are the stand out originals that haven't been released before. There's also enough interesting material here to keep fans happy; "Motorcycle Landscape" (which has appeared before)plus strong demos for "Skylarking" and "Nonesuch" make this very much a keeper for fans. Personally, I created a CDR of the album highlights (combined with the best tracks of the thinner but still interesting "Fuzzy Warbles Volume 6" to create a single, cohesive strong album. I just wish that Andy had done the same here.



Still, it's clear that the CD was created for hardcore fans who were collecting bootlegs of these demos (which have, unfortunately, been floating around for years depriving Partridge and to a lesser extent Moulding of money they rightly deserve). I don't know how many more of these Andy can put out but I will confess my interest is wearing thin. Still, one can't help but like the best material here and listen with amusement or befuddlement at the lesser stuff as well. One thing is for certain--Partridge has never been one to sit on his duff when he's not putting together XTC albums (just listen to the wonderful "Wonderfalls" theme if you're in doubt or the track Partidge did with Moulding, Gregory and Gregory under XTC's alterego The Dukes of Stratosphere). Wonderful or not, this music will keep fans entertained for awhile as Andy and Colin get back to the serious business of XTC."