About this episode

The episode features Alfredo Marziano discussing his book on XTC's album Skylarking, providing insights into its production and track analysis.

In this episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, we join Alfredo Marziano , the author of the newly published XTC: Skylarking – A Life in A Day, the Making of a Pop Classic. This 152-page book draws on archive material and original interviews to go on a deep dive into the record that many XTC fans regard as the band’s finest. As well as setting the scene, describing where the band was in 1986 and the background to working with producer Todd Rundgren in Woodstock and San Francisco, Alfredo gives a track-by-track breakdown of the album and its associated B-sides and outtakes to create a comprehensive overview. XTC: Skylarking – A Life in A Day, the Making of a Pop Classic Music from Dave James 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: Alfredo Marziano

Topics covered

• XTC
• Skylarking
• music production
• album analysis
• interviews
• pop music

Keywords

• XTC
• Skylarking
• Alfredo Marziano
• Todd Rundgren
• album breakdown
• B-sides
• pop classic

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: XTC, Dave James, What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book, www.xtclimelight.com, Patreon, Pink Things, Humble Daisies, Knights in Shining Karma

Books & works: XTC: Skylarking – A Life in A Day

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• XTC's Terry Chambers: 50th anniversary gig · May 8, 2026 · 1h 4m
• XTC and dub with Mark Thomas, Paul Myers and Tom Morley · February 13, 2026 · 1h 51m
• XTC live with Tom Morley (Scritti Politti) and Kathleen Hiraga · January 16, 2026 · 1h 5m
• XTC's Wasp Star at 25 · December 5, 2025 · 1h 32m
• XTC and the Dukes of Stratosphear with Ian Gregory, aka EIEI Owen · November 7, 2025 · 51 min
• Hugh Padgham: working with XTC · October 3, 2025 · 1h 18m

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