Black Sea by XTC
Black Sea is the fourth studio album by the English band XTC, released on 12 September 1980. It spawned five singles—"Generals and Majors" (released 9 August 1980 and reached No. 32 on the UK singles chart and No. 104 on the Billboard Pop chart), "Towers of London" (released 10 October 1980 and reached No. 31 on the UK singles chart), "Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)" (released 5 December 1980 and reached No. 16 on the UK singles chart), "Love at First Sight" (released 23 January 1981 in Canada only) and a re-recording of "Respectable Street" (released 13 March 1981). The album reached No. 16 on the UK album chart, No. 41 on the Billboard U.S. album chart and No. 1 on the New Zealand album chart. Early copies of the album came with the sleeve enclosed in a lime-green paper bag. There was an additional version that came packaged in a black plastic bag with the XTC logo in silver printed on one side. The band's name is hidden in the cover artwork. The seagull, ship's mast and moon spell out XTC. Virgin media mogul Richard Branson appeared in the "Generals and Majors" video.
A minimalist quartet with expansive productions, a modernist dance band, circa 1980, with undanceable rhythms and its heart in ‘60s pop, and whose songs — with unflagging intelligence — question everyone and distrust signs of intellect, XTC serve as a study in contrast. Its leader Andy Partridge is the virtual definition of the standoffish, British observer, preferring socio-political metaphor over matters of the heart — and always singing on the defensive, as if he’s the kid at the bottom of the pile-up being beaten senseless. <i>Black Sea</i> is the group’s fourth album and continues along the sonic improvements — drums and guitars charge at you — and compositional maturity that took root with their previous <i>Drums and Wires</i>. “Respectable Street,” “Generals and Majors” and “Towers of London” are the closest this group of misanthropes is likely to come to accessible, mainstream pop. “Living Through Another Cuba” and “Love at First Sight” virtually define the group’s obstinate approach, spelling out their internal paranoia with jagged rhythms, carefully placed and seductively catchy backing vocals, and a parade of sounds that suggest the circus is in town. Plenty of fun to go around — if you prefer brain teasers.
