<description>&lt;p&gt;Released in 1986, &lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Skylarking&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; stands as one of XTC’s most celebrated and cohesive works—a shimmering, pastoral pop masterpiece that marries the band’s sharp songwriting with lush, orchestral production. Produced by &lt;strong&gt;Todd Rundgren&lt;/strong&gt;, the album was conceived as a &lt;strong&gt;conceptual song cycle&lt;/strong&gt; tracing the arc of an English summer’s day, paralleling the stages of life from youthful innocence to adult disillusionment and beyond.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The music is a &lt;strong&gt;sun-dappled blend of baroque pop, psychedelia, and classic British songwriting&lt;/strong&gt;, evoking the melodic sophistication of The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and The Kinks while remaining distinctly XTC in tone and wit. Songs like “&lt;strong&gt;Grass&lt;/strong&gt;” and “&lt;strong&gt;Season Cycle&lt;/strong&gt;” celebrate nature’s rhythms and sensuality, while “&lt;strong&gt;Dear God&lt;/strong&gt;” (originally a B-side, later a U.S. hit) offers biting social commentary and existential questioning.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lyrically, frontman &lt;strong&gt;Andy Partridge&lt;/strong&gt; and bassist &lt;strong&gt;Colin Moulding&lt;/strong&gt; explore themes of love, faith, time, and the bittersweet beauty of everyday life. Rundgren’s layered arrangements give the album a continuous, almost cinematic flow—each track melting into the next like scenes in a pastoral dream.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Over time, &lt;em&gt;Skylarking&lt;/em&gt; has been reappraised as &lt;strong&gt;one of the finest British albums of the 1980s&lt;/strong&gt;, and many fans regard it as XTC’s crowning achievement—a radiant and wistful meditation on life, nature, and the passage of time.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2324056/open_sms"&gt;What did you think of this album? Send us a text!&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.patreon.com/polyphonicpress"&gt;Support the show&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.polyphonicpress.com/"&gt;Website&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="mailto:polyphonicpressmusic@gmail.com"&gt;Contact&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Polyphonic Press - Classic Album Reviews

Jeremy Boyd & Jon VanDyk

Skylarking by XTC: Studio Perfection and Pastoral Pop Genius

NOV 11, 202535 MIN
Polyphonic Press - Classic Album Reviews

Skylarking by XTC: Studio Perfection and Pastoral Pop Genius

NOV 11, 202535 MIN

Description

<p>Released in 1986, <strong><em>Skylarking</em></strong> stands as one of XTC’s most celebrated and cohesive works—a shimmering, pastoral pop masterpiece that marries the band’s sharp songwriting with lush, orchestral production. Produced by <strong>Todd Rundgren</strong>, the album was conceived as a <strong>conceptual song cycle</strong> tracing the arc of an English summer’s day, paralleling the stages of life from youthful innocence to adult disillusionment and beyond.</p><p>The music is a <strong>sun-dappled blend of baroque pop, psychedelia, and classic British songwriting</strong>, evoking the melodic sophistication of The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and The Kinks while remaining distinctly XTC in tone and wit. Songs like “<strong>Grass</strong>” and “<strong>Season Cycle</strong>” celebrate nature’s rhythms and sensuality, while “<strong>Dear God</strong>” (originally a B-side, later a U.S. hit) offers biting social commentary and existential questioning.</p><p>Lyrically, frontman <strong>Andy Partridge</strong> and bassist <strong>Colin Moulding</strong> explore themes of love, faith, time, and the bittersweet beauty of everyday life. Rundgren’s layered arrangements give the album a continuous, almost cinematic flow—each track melting into the next like scenes in a pastoral dream.</p><p>Over time, <em>Skylarking</em> has been reappraised as <strong>one of the finest British albums of the 1980s</strong>, and many fans regard it as XTC’s crowning achievement—a radiant and wistful meditation on life, nature, and the passage of time.</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2324056/open_sms">What did you think of this album? Send us a text!</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.patreon.com/polyphonicpress">Support the show</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.polyphonicpress.com/">Website</a> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="mailto:[email protected]">Contact</a></p>