XTC - Drums And Wires (1979) [2025, Blu-ray Audio + Hi-Res]

XTC’s classic album Drums & Wires is presented in this 2025 Blu-ray Audio, along with a number of additional tracks in Dolby Atmos, mixed & produced by Steven Wilson. One of the gems of the post-punk era, replete with the sort of musical diversity that would have been unimaginable two years earlier, Swindon’s finest, XTC, produced an early classic album with their third release, the Steve Lillywhite produced Drums and Wires. Both Andy Partridge & Colin Moulding were growing in confidence as songwriters – this album did much to further their reputation for peerless post-punk pop tunes. But it was also Steve Lillywhite & engineer Hugh Padgham’s ability to give appropriate studio support & recording expertise to the more expansive pieces such as “Roads Girdle The Globe” & “Complicated Game” that helped to bring a new level of maturity to the overall feel of the release. Issued at the start of September, Drums and Wires entered the UK Albums Chart where it remained for a total of seven weeks, accompanied by another first for the band, a Top 20 UK (& international) hit single in album lead track “Making Plans for Nigel”. The Blu-Ray edition also includes the DJM mixes – songs earmarked as potential single releases & a number of full demo sessions tracking the complete evolution of the album – a virtual boxed set on a single Blu-Ray disc. All of the stereo material is presented in 24/96 LPCM stereo while the 5.1 material appears in DTS-HD MA audio format. For anyone fortunate enough to be new to the album, yes, pop music really was this good at one point in time. It was even reasonably popular.

Blu-ray
2025 Dolby Atmos Mix
01. Making Plans For Nigel – 04:15
02. Helicopter – 03:55
03. Day In Day Out – 03:06
04. When You’re Near Me I Have Difficulty – 03:22
05. Ten Feet Tall – 03:15
06. Roads Girdle The Globe – 04:49
07. Real By Reel – 03:47
08. Millions – 05:37
09. That Is The Way – 02:58
10. Outside World – 02:41
11. Scissor Man – 04:01
12. Complicated Game – 04:59
13. Homo Safari – 02:14
14. Chain Of Command – 02:41
15. Limelight – 02:25
16. Bushman President – 03:18
17. Pulsing Pulsing – 01:37
18. Wait Til Your Boat Goes Down – 04:43
19. Ten Feet Tall (Electric Version) – 03:13
20. Officer Blue – 02:32
21. Over Rusty Water – 01:37
22. Sleepyheads – 04:52
23. That Is The Way (Original Pitch) – 02:54
2014 5.1 Mix 24/96
01. Making Plans For Nigel – 04:15
02. Helicopter – 03:55
03. Day In Day Out – 03:06
04. When You’re Near Me I Have Difficulty – 03:22
05. Ten Feet Tall – 03:15
06. Roads Girdle The Globe – 04:49
07. Real By Reel – 03:47
08. Millions – 05:37
09. That Is The Way – 02:58
10. Outside World – 02:41
11. Scissor Man – 04:01
12. Complicated Game – 04:59
13. Homo Safari – 02:14
14. Chain Of Command – 02:42
15. Limelight – 02:25
16. Bushman President – 03:17
17. Pulsing Pulsing – 01:37
18. Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down – 04:43
19. Ten Feet Tall (Electric Version) – 03:14
20. Officer Blue – 02:33
21. Over Rusty Water – 01:37
22. Sleepyheads – 04:52
23. That Is The Way (Original Pitch) – 02:53
24. Life Begins At The Hop (Upmixed From Stereo) – 03:49
2014 Stereo Mixes 24/96
01. Making Plans For Nigel – 04:16
02. Helicopter – 03:55
03. Day In Day Out – 03:06
04. When You’re Near Me I Have Difficulty – 03:22
05. Ten Feet Tall – 03:15
06. Roads Girdle The Globe – 04:49
07. Real By Reel – 03:47
08. Millions – 05:38
09. That Is The Way – 02:59
10. Outside World – 02:41
11. Scissor Man – 04:01
12. Complicated Game – 04:59
13. Life Begins At The Hop – 03:48
14. Homo Safari – 02:14
15. Chain Of Command – 02:41
16. Limelight 2 – 02:26
17. Bushman President – 03:18
18. Pulsing Pulsing – 01:38
19. Wait Til Your Boat Goes Down – 04:44
20. Ten Feet Tall (Electric Version) – 03:14
21. Officer Blue – 02:32
22. Over Rusty Water – 01:38
23. Sleepyheads – 04:52
24. Complicated Game (Out-take) – 05:50
25. That Is The Way (Original Pitch) – 02:53
26. Chain Of Command (Alt Take) – 03:17
2014 Instrumental Stereo Mixes 24/96
01. Making Plans For Nigel – 04:16
02. Helicopter – 03:55
03. Day In Day Out – 03:06
04. When You’re Near Me I Have Difficulty – 03:22
05. Ten Feet Tall – 03:15
06. Roads Girdle The Globe – 04:49
07. Real By Reel – 03:47
08. Millions – 05:38
09. That Is The Way – 02:59
10. Outside World – 02:41
11. Scissor Man – 04:01
12. Complicated Game – 04:59
13. Chain Of Command – 02:43
14. Limelight – 02:26
15. Pulsing Pulsing – 01:38
16. Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down – 04:44
17. Ten Feet Tall (Electric Version) – 03:14
18. Officer Blue – 02:32
19. Sleepyheads – 04:53
20. That Is The Way (Original Pitch) – 02:53
Original Master 24/96
01. Making Plans For Nigel – 04:12
02. Helicopter – 03:57
03. Day In Day Out – 03:07
04. When You’re Near Me I Have Difficulty – 03:23
05. Ten Feet Tall – 03:16
06. Roads Girdle The Globe – 04:48
07. Real By Reel – 03:46
08. Millions – 05:38
09. That Is The Way – 02:57
10. Outside World – 02:40
11. Scissor Man – 04:00
12. Complicated Game – 04:56
13. Chain Of Command – 02:33
14. Limelight – 02:25
15. Life Begins At The Hop (Long Version) – 04:09
16. That Is The Way (Long Version) – 03:31
Bonus Tracks 24/96
DJM Stereo Mixes
01. Helicopter – 03:30
02. When You’re Near Me I Have Difficulty – 03:32
03. Real By Reel – 03:48
Saucy Plate Session
01. The Beautiful People – 02:19
02. Cheap Perfume – 02:44
03. I Feel Blue – 04:06
04. Someone’s Been In My Room – 02:44
05. If I Had My Way – 02:47
Unknown Session
01. Life Begins At The Hop – 03:58
Swindon Town Hall 1
01. Life Begins At The Hop – 04:36
02. When You’re Near Me I Have Difficulty – 03:03
03. Cheap Perfume – 02:46
04. Outside World – 02:45
Swindon Town Hall 2
01. Chain Of Command – 02:46
02. Ten Feet Tall – 02:51
03. Helicopter – 03:55
04. Making Plans For Nigel – 04:18
Toots Garage
01. Officer Blue – 02:49
02. Don’t Lose Your Temper – 02:42
03. I Overheard – 03:50
04. Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down – 05:14
Tudor Barn Album Rehearsal
01. Millions (Instrumental) – 04:23
02. Limelight (Arrangement Query) – 00:27
03. Limelight – 02:33
04. Limelight (Drum Arrangement Chat) – 01:16
05. Complicated Game – 06:39
06. Diddley-Beat Jam – 03:08
07. Millions (Drum Arrangement) – 02:51
08. Millions (With Vocals) – 06:22
09. Limelight (With Vocals) – 02:31
10. Day In (Preamble) – 01:07
11. Day In, Day Out – 04:03
12. Real By Reel – 04:27
13. This Is The Preamble – 01:11
14. That Is The Way (Breakdown) – 02:23
15. That Is Another Way – 03:35
16. Helicopter – 04:02
17. Game Set-Up – 01:24
18. Complicated Game – 03:46
19. Complicated Analysis / Scissor Set-Up – 02:59
20. Scissor Man (Fades) – 03:20

Hi-Res
2025 7.1 Mix 24/48
01. Making Plans For Nigel – 04:15
02. Helicopter – 03:55
03. Day In Day Out – 03:06
04. When You’re Near Me I Have Difficulty – 03:22
05. Ten Feet Tall – 03:15
06. Roads Girdle The Globe – 04:49
07. Real By Reel – 03:47
08. Millions – 05:37
09. That Is The Way – 02:58
10. Outside World – 02:41
11. Scissor Man – 04:01
12. Complicated Game – 04:59
13. Homo Safari – 02:14
14. Chain Of Command – 02:41
15. Limelight – 02:25
16. Bushman President – 03:18
17. Pulsing Pulsing – 01:37
18. Wait Til Your Boat Goes Down – 04:43
19. Ten Feet Tall (Electric Version) – 03:13
20. Officer Blue – 02:32
21. Over Rusty Water – 01:37
22. Sleepyheads – 04:52
23. That Is The Way (Original Pitch) – 02:54
2014 5.1 Mix 24/96
01. Making Plans For Nigel – 04:15
02. Helicopter – 03:55
03. Day In Day Out – 03:06
04. When You’re Near Me I Have Difficulty – 03:22
05. Ten Feet Tall – 03:15
06. Roads Girdle The Globe – 04:49
07. Real By Reel – 03:47
08. Millions – 05:37
09. That Is The Way – 02:58
10. Outside World – 02:41
11. Scissor Man – 04:01
12. Complicated Game – 04:59
13. Homo Safari – 02:14
14. Chain Of Command – 02:42
15. Limelight – 02:25
16. Bushman President – 03:17
17. Pulsing Pulsing – 01:37
18. Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down – 04:43
19. Ten Feet Tall (Electric Version) – 03:14
20. Officer Blue – 02:33
21. Over Rusty Water – 01:37
22. Sleepyheads – 04:52
23. That Is The Way (Original Pitch) – 02:53
24. Life Begins At The Hop (Upmixed From Stereo) – 03:49
2014 Stereo Mixes 24/96
01. Making Plans For Nigel – 04:16
02. Helicopter – 03:55
03. Day In Day Out – 03:06
04. When You’re Near Me I Have Difficulty – 03:22
05. Ten Feet Tall – 03:15
06. Roads Girdle The Globe – 04:49
07. Real By Reel – 03:47
08. Millions – 05:38
09. That Is The Way – 02:59
10. Outside World – 02:41
11. Scissor Man – 04:01
12. Complicated Game – 04:59
13. Life Begins At The Hop – 03:48
14. Homo Safari – 02:14
15. Chain Of Command – 02:41
16. Limelight 2 – 02:26
17. Bushman President – 03:18
18. Pulsing Pulsing – 01:38
19. Wait Til Your Boat Goes Down – 04:44
20. Ten Feet Tall (Electric Version) – 03:14
21. Officer Blue – 02:32
22. Over Rusty Water – 01:38
23. Sleepyheads – 04:52
24. Complicated Game (Out-take) – 05:50
25. That Is The Way (Original Pitch) – 02:53
26. Chain Of Command (Alt Take) – 03:17
2014 Instrumental Stereo Mixes 24/96
01. Making Plans For Nigel – 04:16
02. Helicopter – 03:55
03. Day In Day Out – 03:06
04. When You’re Near Me I Have Difficulty – 03:22
05. Ten Feet Tall – 03:15
06. Roads Girdle The Globe – 04:49
07. Real By Reel – 03:47
08. Millions – 05:38
09. That Is The Way – 02:59
10. Outside World – 02:41
11. Scissor Man – 04:01
12. Complicated Game – 04:59
13. Chain Of Command – 02:43
14. Limelight – 02:26
15. Pulsing Pulsing – 01:38
16. Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down – 04:44
17. Ten Feet Tall (Electric Version) – 03:14
18. Officer Blue – 02:32
19. Sleepyheads – 04:53
20. That Is The Way (Original Pitch) – 02:53
Original Master 24/96
01. Making Plans For Nigel – 04:12
02. Helicopter – 03:57
03. Day In Day Out – 03:07
04. When You’re Near Me I Have Difficulty – 03:23
05. Ten Feet Tall – 03:16
06. Roads Girdle The Globe – 04:48
07. Real By Reel – 03:46
08. Millions – 05:38
09. That Is The Way – 02:57
10. Outside World – 02:40
11. Scissor Man – 04:00
12. Complicated Game – 04:56
13. Chain Of Command – 02:33
14. Limelight – 02:25
15. Life Begins At The Hop (Long Version) – 04:09
16. That Is The Way (Long Version) – 03:31
Bonus Tracks 24/96
DJM Stereo Mixes
01. Helicopter – 03:30
02. When You’re Near Me I Have Difficulty – 03:32
03. Real By Reel – 03:48
Saucy Plate Session
01. The Beautiful People – 02:19
02. Cheap Perfume – 02:44
03. I Feel Blue – 04:06
04. Someone’s Been In My Room – 02:44
05. If I Had My Way – 02:47
Unknown Session
01. Life Begins At The Hop – 03:58
Swindon Town Hall 1
01. Life Begins At The Hop – 04:36
02. When You’re Near Me I Have Difficulty – 03:03
03. Cheap Perfume – 02:46
04. Outside World – 02:45
Swindon Town Hall 2
01. Chain Of Command – 02:46
02. Ten Feet Tall – 02:51
03. Helicopter – 03:55
04. Making Plans For Nigel – 04:18
Toots Garage
01. Officer Blue – 02:49
02. Don’t Lose Your Temper – 02:42
03. I Overheard – 03:50
04. Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down – 05:14
Tudor Barn Album Rehearsal
01. Millions (Instrumental) – 04:23
02. Limelight (Arrangement Query) – 00:27
03. Limelight – 02:33
04. Limelight (Drum Arrangement Chat) – 01:16
05. Complicated Game – 06:39
06. Diddley-Beat Jam – 03:08
07. Millions (Drum Arrangement) – 02:51
08. Millions (With Vocals) – 06:22
09. Limelight (With Vocals) – 02:31
10. Day In (Preamble) – 01:07
11. Day In, Day Out – 04:03
12. Real By Reel – 04:27
13. This Is The Preamble – 01:11
14. That Is The Way (Breakdown) – 02:23
15. That Is Another Way – 03:35
16. Helicopter – 04:02
17. Game Set-Up – 01:24
18. Complicated Game – 03:46
19. Complicated Analysis / Scissor Set-Up – 02:59
20. Scissor Man (Fades) – 03:20

MKV Audio
2025 Dolby Atmos Mix
01. Making Plans For Nigel – 04:15
02. Helicopter – 03:55
03. Day In Day Out – 03:06
04. When You’re Near Me I Have Difficulty – 03:22
05. Ten Feet Tall – 03:15
06. Roads Girdle The Globe – 04:49
07. Real By Reel – 03:47
08. Millions – 05:37
09. That Is The Way – 02:58
10. Outside World – 02:41
11. Scissor Man – 04:01
12. Complicated Game – 04:59
13. Homo Safari – 02:14
14. Chain Of Command – 02:41
15. Limelight – 02:25
16. Bushman President – 03:18
17. Pulsing Pulsing – 01:37
18. Wait Til Your Boat Goes Down – 04:43
19. Ten Feet Tall (Electric Version) – 03:13
20. Officer Blue – 02:32
21. Over Rusty Water – 01:37
22. Sleepyheads – 04:52
23. That Is The Way (Original Pitch) – 02:54

* Dolby Atmos in MKV container compatible with streaming devices & most media center software.

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LOGS
BDINFO | HI-RES DYNAMIC RANGE | MKV ATMOS

IMAGE GALLERY
BD SCREENSHOTS

INFO
DISCOGS

LINKS
LMA_XTC.1979.DAW.2025
Optional BD files
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