ANDY PARTRIDGE, MELODY MAKER 18.8.79

XTC ARE ABOUT AS FLASH AS A USED MATCH. IF A TV SERIES IS EVER FRAMED AROUND
THEM THEY WOULD PROBABLY - LIKE LAUREL AND HARDY OR MORECAMBE AND WISE
- SHARE THE SAME BED. ANY UNDERCURRENTS OF SEXUALITY WOULD BE DIFFUSED
BY CONVENIENT PROPS. NOT A BOWLER HAT OR A PIPE, BUT A TRAY FULL OF SAND AND
SOME SMALL PLASTIC AIRFIX 8TH ARMY SOLDIERS THAT PARTRIDGE AND MOULDING
WOULD BE PLAYING WITH - BANG! BANG! - WHILST CHAMBERS GRUMPILY TRIED TO
GET SOME SLEEP AND GREGORY WITH BENIGN PATIENCE READ H.G. WELLS' "MR. POLLY".

PAUL MORLEY, NME 20.9.80

"I'M JUST A CRUDE OPTIMIST, A VERY SMILEY PERSON. THAT'S MY ROLE. SOME PEOPLE
MIGHT FIND THAT A BIT... WELL, I SUPPOSE IF YOU HAD A PERSONAL JESTER AND YOU
WOKE UP ONE MORNING WITH A HANGOVER AND THERE WAS THIS BLOKE THERE WITH
A THREE CORNERED HAT AND A PIG'S BLADDER YOU'D GET A BIT ANNOYED!"
THE LAST I SEE OF MASTER ILLUSIONIST ANDY PARTRIDGE HE'S EARNESTLY DISCUSSING
WITH HIS WIFE THE CHARACTERS IN 'THE WOODENTOPS', HAVING JUST GIVEN A
DEMONSTRATION OF SPOTTY THE DOG'S WALK.

PAUL MORLEY, NME 20.9.80