Chalkhills and geoglyphs: the landscape of XTC

Chalkhills and geoglyphs: the landscape of XTC

From What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast by Mark Fisher

June 12, 2026 · 1h 18m · Episode 73

About this episode

Jon Woolcott discusses his book on chalk figures and their cultural significance in relation to XTC's music.

In this episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast , author Jon Woolcott talks about The Tattooed Hills , his new book about the chalk figures of southern England, including the Uffington White Horse, cover star of XTC’s English Settlement . “It’s timeless, simple and classic,” Andy Partridge tells him in the final chapter of the book. With fellow XTC fan Chris Badley , we talk about the culture of the countryside and the influence of the landscape on everything from Chalkhills and Children to The Wheel and the Maypole . Music from Matthew Caleb Flamm The Tattooed Hills What Do You Call that Noise? The XTC Podcast is sponsored by Burning Shed , the online home for all XTC CD, vinyl and official merchandise. What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast , please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

People in this episode

Host: Mark Fisher

Guest: Jon Woolcott

Topics covered

  • XTC
  • landscape
  • countryside culture
  • chalk figures
  • music influence

Keywords

  • XTC
  • chalk figures
  • Uffington White Horse
  • The Tattooed Hills
  • English Settlement
  • countryside culture

Sponsors

Burning Shed

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Tattooed Hills, English Settlement, Chalkhills and Children, The Wheel and the Maypole

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