Seminal Swindon eccentrics, XTC, recently released a box-set of rare material.

Self-confessed XTC aficionado Tony Worgan spoke to bass-player Colin Moulding

It’s so gratifying to know that the best songwriters do it. Dooby, dooby do. The finest lyric has to come from somewhere and doesn’t always arrive in one poetic burst of inspiration.

The new CD package from Swindon’s finest, XTC, includes numerous demos from the shed. You can hear the Mayor of Simpleton being conceived and a version of King for a Day that’s not too dissimilar from the later album version.

The 4CD set called ‘Coat of Many Cupboards’ is really for XTC obsessives. It was ever thus. Any band loved by critics & acclaimed for producing ‘perfect’ work, was bound to attract too few fans, who love the twisting melodies and wry lyrics.

XTC - Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding

Sadly, Colin and Andy are trying to get into the senses of ‘Joe Public’, but their music makes your senses work overtime and I’m afraid some people don’t like to work that hard.

For me their melodies are easy. They’re constantly engaging, as they take another unexpected turn.

All XTC fans are confounded by the groups relative lack of chart success. How can any musicians who write such lovely songs as Chalk Hills & Children and Wonderland, not be in every CD collection in the land, like the ubiquitous Beautiful South??

I shall keep laughing and listening. I would buy Coat of Many Cupboards just to hear the rare television appearance on the BBC Late Show when they performed Books are Burning. The sleeve notes even explain the inspiration for Bungalow.

I spent an hour talking to Colin Moulding about the joys and frustrations of being part of a unique group.

Click here to listen to the interview.