In reality a very thinly-disguised XTC, the mysterious DUKES OF STRATOSPHEAR were one of the better side projects to come spinning from a successful Mothership in the past 20 years or so. Of course, such splinter projects are often the work of bored, has-been rock stars with too much time, wealth and drugs on their hands, but not so here. In fact, XTC have consistently made memorable, quintessentially English pop of the highest order since 1977, and continue to do so.
So why bother with such a re-invention? Well, XTC's agenda has differed from most groups on the album-tour-album-tour ad in finitum treadmill since 1982, when singer/main songwriter Andy Partridge's desperate brush with chronic stage fright effectively ended the band's career on the boards. Consequently, why not fill in the time by creating a new project entirely...namely this quirky, psychedelic alter ego.
Joining up with producer John Leckie down in Cornwall's Sawmill Studios (also famed for its usage by artists as diverse as SUPERGRASS and SWANS), the newly-renamed DUKES set about creating two minor masterpieces in the two 1985 mini-LPs,"25 O'Clock" and "Psonic Psunspot", which are gathered together in anthology form as "Chips From The Chocolate Fireball" here.
On paper, the idea of slavishly recreating the sights, sounds'smells (sorry, getting a bit SPINAL TAP there) of 1967 looks little short of horrendous, but fortunately this is XTC, so consequently both a large quota of great tunes and deprecating humour were drafted into the area.
And it really does sound authentic. Just one listen to the dramatic "25 O'clock" and you're there. Deluged by chiming clocks, lashings of Rick Wright-style "Turkish Delight" Farfisa organ and a dramatic chorus strongly reminiscent of THE ELECTRIC PRUNES' "I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night"....you can virtually taste the patchouli oil, never mind smell it!
THE DUKES effectively cover virtually all psych bases throughout the 16 tracks. Songs like "Bike Ride To The Moon" has a charged-up "Nuggets" feel, as does the supremely daft "My Love Explodes", which does literally end with an explosion, after bouts of gongs and overheated guitars. Bassist Colin Moulding's songwriting also comes into its' own, with songs as catchily effective as "What In The World?" (dig the "Itchycoo Park" phasing, Grandad!), the sublime "Vanishing Girl" featuring shiny, scrubbed acoustic guitars and a luscious chorus and the strange but touching "The Affiliated" in which a typically regular male drinker gets rescued by his dream girl, despite fierce competition from his none-more macho mates. There again, the lyric leaves it unresolved.
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Naturally, Partridge isn't overshadowed. Perhaps the daftest song of all is his: "The Mole From The Ministry" is absolutely stuffed with "Sergeant Pepper" tricks, from the crazy "Lucy In The Sky" modulated vocals to the stomping piano-led chorus (and its' strains of mellotron). Its' intro features that other time-worn staple of English psych: the tweeting birds in the garden. Oh yes, and we mustn't forget the linking storyboard bits,a la "Ogden's Nut Gone Flake " too - don't panic, they're here in several places.
"You're My Drug" on the other hand,is reminiscent of CREAM'S "I Feel Free", with its' massed vocals flying in from all over the place and its' perpetual motion bassline. "You're A Good Man,Albert Brown" heads in the opposite direction, coming on like a KINKS-ish knees up (Ye Olde Music Halle Psychedelia), buit perhaps the best of all is kept for the last. Initially, it's churchy organ and Partridge's gentle, pastoral croon are far closer to XTC's own blueprint (especially around the "Nonsuch" period), but then its' transformed into the greatest Brian Wilson out-take you've never heard. Honestly, it's uncannily accurate and totally glorious to boot. Sensibly, it's the closing track - and quite probably the last word in this very special retro journey.
A pastiche, then, but with XTC's magical melodic touch, it's a detour well worth taking on your holidays away from the band's main body of work and a little-touted re-issue to boot. So c'mon then - these magical mystery men are waiting to take you away. Again.
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