Editing XTC (section)

===''Fuzzy Warbles'' and disintegrated partnership===
After ''Wasp Star'', newly recorded XTC material was released sporadically. The four-disc hits and rarities boxed set ''[[Coat of Many Cupboards]]'' (2002) included "Didn't Hurt a Bit", a rerecording of a ''Nonsuch'' outtake. The Dukes of Stratosphear—with Dave and Ian Gregory<ref name="Machine09">{{cite news|author1=Pop Machine|title=Andy Partridge hails the Dukes, buries XTC, chides Robyn Hitchcock and considers himself done|url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_popmachine/2009/05/the-ever-melodic-adventurous-underappreciated-british-band-xtc-had-just-come-off-1984s-coolly-digital-low-selling-th.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090613014431/http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_popmachine/2009/05/the-ever-melodic-adventurous-underappreciated-british-band-xtc-had-just-come-off-1984s-coolly-digital-low-selling-th.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 June 2009|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=29 May 2009|quote=PM09}}</ref>—were reunited for the charity single "Open a Can (of Human Beans)" (2003).<ref>{{cite web|last1=Dahlen|first1=Chris|title=25 O'Clock / Psonic Psunspot|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12893-25-oclock-psonic-psunspot/|website=Pitchfork|date=2 April 2009|access-date=20 September 2017}}</ref> Another set, ''[[Apple Box]]'' (2005), included two new tracks: "Spiral", written by Partridge and "Say It", by Moulding. These songs were available to purchasers of the box set in digital format only, with the use of a special download code. This followed with a digital-exclusive track, Moulding's "Where Did the Ordinary People Go?", released in December 2005.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

From 2002 to 2006, Partridge simultaneously released volumes in the multi-album ''[[Fuzzy Warbles]]'' series, a set dedicated to unreleased solo demos and other material.<ref name="DahlenFuzzy"/> Moulding was initially attached to the project, but opted out because "I just wouldn't have found it very inspiring. Maybe a couple of volumes would've been okay, or just one. But he [Andy] wanted to do twelve, which kind of put the wind up me a little bit. We had a bit of an argument about it."<ref name="OF03">{{cite web|author1=wesLONG|title=Didn't Hurt a Bit|url=http://www.optimismsflames.com/Interview1Colin.htm|website=Optimism Flames|date=June 2003|access-date=20 September 2017}}</ref> He felt that such "petty" arguments about XTC's finances precipitated the band's unofficial break-up, as he said in reference to the ''Fuzzy Warbles'' collection, "I got the impression he was going for broke ..."<ref name="mojo2021"/> Partridge said that the impetus for the project was the proliferation of bootleggers who were selling low-quality copies of the material<ref name="Sailed2006" /> and that the ''Fuzzy Warbles'' set earned him more money than XTC's back catalog on Virgin.<ref name="DahlenFuzzy"/> He also did not feel that XTC were a band anymore: "It's more of a brand. It's more [[HP Sauce]] than ever. [Colin and I are] two selfish middle-aged gits who make the music we make."<ref name="Morrish1999" />

{{Quote box
| quote = He [Colin] told me some months back that he's not interested in music anymore, and doesn't want to write, and basically said, "Our paths will cross again or they'll be involved in some way." And then he proceeded to move away from his house.
| source = —Andy Partridge, 2007<ref name="fridge"/>
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In 2006, Partridge recorded an album, ''Monstrance'', with Barry Andrews and drummer Martyn Barker. During one of the sessions, some of his hearing was destroyed following a studio mishap, which caused him to develop severe and permanent [[tinnitus]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gallo|first1=Phil|title=XTC's Partridge discusses boxset, Monstrance|url=https://variety.com/2006/music/news/xtc-s-partridge-discusses-boxset-monstrance-1117955044/|website=Variety|date=4 December 2006|access-date=20 September 2017}}</ref> Near the end of the year, he told an interviewer that Moulding recently ("a couple of months back") lost interest in writing, performing or even listening to music. He remained hopeful that the situation was temporary and assured that they had "not killed off the XTC head. I mean, we still have the head cryogenically frozen. ... It's no good making a record and calling it XTC, certainly, if Colin isn't involved."<ref name="Sailed2006">{{cite news|last1=Schabe|first1=Patrick|title=The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul|url=https://www.popmatters.com/the-man-who-sailed-around-his-soul-2495729988.html|website=PopMatters|date=27 October 2006|access-date=20 September 2017}}</ref> In November, he stated that he had been forced to regard the group "in the past tense," with no likelihood of a new project unless Moulding should have a change of heart.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Countdowns to XTC|magazine=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]|date=December 2006|page=22}}</ref> Months later, Partridge intimated that Moulding had moved and changed his phone number,<ref name="fridge">{{cite web|last1=Maher|first1=Dave|title=Andy Partridge: XTC "Well and Truly in the Fridge"|url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/41069/Andy_Partridge_XTC_Well_and_Truly_in_the_Fridge|website=Pitchfork|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114055305/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/41069/Andy_Partridge_XTC_Well_and_Truly_in_the_Fridge|archive-date=14 January 2009|date=2 February 2007}}</ref> effectively ending all contact between the two and reducing their correspondence to emails exchanged via their manager to discuss the division of the band's assets. Partridge also said he and Gregory—their differences now resolved—had considered working together again.<ref name="RundgrenRadio-Andy">{{cite web|author1=Doug|title=Andy Partridge interview|url=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/runt/2008/02/17/rundgren-radio/|website=Rundgren Radio|access-date=5 January 2018|time=57:00–58:50, 1:45:00–1:46:25 |date=17 February 2008|type=Audio}}</ref>

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| quote = There was no official announcement that we'd finished. I just got wind that Andy didn't really want to make another record, but he didn't tell me and maybe he didn't know himself. ... I just think we were two old men who didn't really talk much.
| source = —Colin Moulding, 2018<ref>{{cite web|last1=Catchpole|first1=Matt|title=MAKING PLANS – XTC's Colin Moulding And Terry Chambers Ponder Live Shows After DIY Great Aspirations EP|url=https://essentiallypop.com/epop/2018/02/making-plans-xtcs-colin-moulding-and-terry-chambers-ponder-live-shows-after-diy-great-aspirations-ep/|website=Essentially Pop|date=22 February 2018|access-date=20 September 2017}}</ref>
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In July 2008, Partridge wrote in the ''[[Swindon Advertiser]]'' that he believed his "musical partnership with Colin Moulding has come to an end. For reasons too personal and varied to go into here, but we had a good run as they say and produced some real good work. No, I won't be working with him in the future."<ref>{{cite web | title = What's happening with Colin? | author = Andy Partridge | url = http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/leisure/music/andysanswers/3558640.What_s_happening_with_Colin_/ | publisher = The Swindon Advertiser | date = 30 July 2008 | access-date = 12 October 2008 | author-link = Andy Partridge | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110929104107/http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/leisure/music/andysanswers/3558640.What_s_happening_with_Colin_/ | archive-date = 29 September 2011 }}</ref> In December, Moulding resurfaced for a live radio interview where he confirmed his recent disillusionment with music, but revealed that he was thinking of working on solo material. His given reasons for the break-up were financial discord, disagreement over the extent of the ''Fuzzy Warbles'' project, and a "change in mindset" between him and Partridge. He also stated that he and Partridge were once again communicating directly by email.<ref name="RundgrenRadio-Colin">{{cite web|author=Dave|url=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/runt/2008/12/07/Rundgren-Radio|title=Interview of Colin Moulding|website=Rundgren Radio|date=7 December 2008|access-date=9 December 2008|type=Audio|time=12:24–16:00|archive-date=25 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225073541/http://www.blogtalkradio.com/runt/2008/12/07/Rundgren-Radio|url-status=dead}}</ref>