Colin Moulding (XTC) | Know Your Bass Player

Photo by Don Pyle – Courtesy of Ape UK Net

Colin Moulding’s bass artistry within the context of XTC – a multifaceted pop rock collective which he founded with Andy Partridge – is testimony to the fact that a bassist can play any note over any chord as long as it has a purpose!

A self-taught player, a prolific composer and vocalist – Moulding’s approach to the instrument seamlessly melds supportive and countermelodic passages akin to Sir Paul, Brian Wilson, and Chris Squire, to reference three icons.

From XTC’s power punk beginnings as evidenced on White Music (1978), their forays into mainstream song-craft as found on Black Sea (1980) and English Settlement (1982), on through to their psychedelic pop masterpieces Skylark (1986), Oranges & Lemons (1989), and Nonsuch (1992) – and the band’s trippy side-project The Dukes of the Stratosphear – Colin and XTC combine The Kinks’ intelligent British disposition with The Beatles and Beach Boys mastery of melody and studio recording.

Methinks if XTC had not refrained from touring early in their career, they would have achieved enduring, worldwide commercial success.

In 2017 Colin and former XTC drummer Terry Chambers under the moniker of TC& I waxed a self-titled EP and commenced to live performances.

Colin Mounding NOTES FROM AN ARTIST Interview with co-host David C. Gross