Show Notes
Twenty-five years after their final album, XTC continue to inspire new generations of musicians. In this episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, Grammy Award-winning songwriter Madison Cunningham talks about finding inspiration in River of Orchids, 1000 Umbrellas and Easter Theatre.
The musician also talks about her love of a riff, lyrical ambiguity and following her musical instincts.
Madison Cunningham
Madison Cunningham, Jacob Collier and Chris Thile covering XTC's River of Orchids
This month’s song is by Stephen Dahill
What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com
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More from What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast
In this packed edition of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, Anton Barbeau talks about his latest album, Come Home to Me, featuring Colin Moulding on bass, Dave Gregory on guitar and Lord Cornelius Plum on Mellotron. Ashely LeCron and Mark Fisher ask the questions.
27 October 2026 is the 40th anniversary of XTC’s Skylarking and a big birthday deserves a big celebration. Joining us at the party for this episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast are XTC’s Colin Moulding, Blur’s drummer Dave Rowntree, BBC Radio 4 presenter Samira Ahmed and Labour Member of Parliament Rupa Huq. As well as 40 years of Skylarking, they talk about Want it Bad, the new single by Colin Moulding, released on 18 September 2026 and available from Burning Shed. Want it Bad by Colin Moulding A Hard Day's Night (BFI Film Classics) by Samira Ahmed No One You Know: Dave Rowntree's Early Blur Photos 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.
The special guest in today’s episode of What Do You Call that Noise? The XTC Podcast is Steve Lillywhite who, in 1979, was the 24-year-old producer of Life Begins at the Hop, XTC’s first single featuring Dave Gregory, followed by Drums and Wires and then 1980’s Black Sea. All these years later, he still looks back at it as a charmed period of his life.
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