When Inspiration Strikes with Colin Moulding (XTC, The Dukes of Stratosphear, TC&I)

In South West England, in a town called Swindon, a group of disaffected youth would come together in the early 70s and create a body of songs over the next few decades whose indelible melodies and incisive lyrics would root themselves in your brain and never leave. Today’s guest, Colin Moulding, shook off XTC’s early affection for dissonance and composed their first breakthrough hit, “Making Plans for Nigel” - instantly becoming a worthy creative foil for the band’s primary singer and songwriter, Andy Partridge. Colin’s bass lines alone - serpentine, song-friendly but always memorable - would qualify him for the four string pantheon, but the fact that he has also crafted and sang some of the band’s best-loved tunes makes him a unique triple threat.  Speaking with us from his garden shed studio, Colin opines on everything from the band’s circuitous route from touring act to studio wizards, their adventures with some of rock’s best-known knob twiddlers, and his process for letting good musical ideas wash over him vs. forcing them out. XTC (https://open.spotify.com/artist/2qT62DYO8Ajb276vUJmvhz?si=2i_RljmPT7GW7PNw-9Yb8w) The Dukes of Stratosphear (https://open.spotify.com/artist/1ilhXoWIlGxz3fM4B24mNo?si=cujLrBZhQzmOeTy97OBJmw) TC&I (https://burningshed.com/artists/tcandi) Colin’s recent solo release “The Hardest Battle” (https://burningshed.com/colin-moulding_the-hardest-battle_cd) XTC: This is Pop (2018) - Documentary trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjPenjuPZhM) This episode was brought to you by "The Bastard Instrument: A Cultural History of the Electric Bass," the essential new book that illuminates the origins and impact of our beloved instrument in all its glory. An amazing read. Buy it at Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Bastard-Instrument-Cultural-Electric-Tracking/dp/0472056816/) or your favorite book slinger. And check out author Brian F. Wright's website (https://www.brianfwright.com/) for unreleased content from the book and more of his writing.

Om Podcasten

"Four Strings and the Truth: The Bassists Who Changed Music" features intimate conversations with players who have changed the course of the music that came after them, and continue to do so. We'll uncover their four-string mindset - their influences, approach, artistic practice, and how they go about practicing, playing, composing songs, being in a band and living their lives. Host Sandy Smallens, an indie- and major label-recording artist and bassist of 40-plus years, shines a light on the sometimes unsung (or at least under-sung) heroes who continue to redefine the bass's role in contemporary music, channeling his experience as a music writer and founder of Spotify's original content department. Check out the official pod playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2NJT1Dpc6eGi09uJOuQWKs?si=4d76eeff2b5c4615. Theme music by Surface Wound. "Four Strings and the Truth" is an Audiation Original production.