Colin Moulding is not the frontman of the UK psychedelic new wave cult heroes XTC; that's Andy Partridge. But Moulding has played bass, and sometimes sung lead and written songs, for the band since they first formed in 1972, and he's responsible for some of their best-known songs, including "Generals And Majors" and "Making Plans For Nigel." Moulding has also been in XTC side projects the Dukes Of Straosphear and TC&I. But Moulding does not make fully solo music very often. Today, he puts out the second solo release of his decades-long career.
Back in 2021, Colin Moulding released a solo EP called The Hardest Battle. It's a CD-only release that's not available on streaming. The same is true of his new solo CD single Want It Bad (The Pep Talks And Playing Fields Of Old England). It's a short release, just two songs and a demo of the first. Here's what Moulding says about it:
I was scouting around for a cover that would signify human endeavor. I had written this song called "Want It Bad," which basically amounted to a pep talk by a sporting coach to his team. Football perhaps, but something made me think of the runners on the beach in the film Chariots Of Fire. If you want something in this life, you have to really want it. And if you really want it, you’ll get it. That was my mantra
So after many permutations, Andrew [Swainson], my artwork designer said, "What about Delaunay and his runners?" And when he showed me, there was no doubt.
Although the song "Want It Bad" had started life as a sporting pep talk, it was clear that it could easy be thought of as a mantra for one's own life ambitions, whatever they may be.
Though record isn't on streaming, Moulding did put a ghastly AI video for "Want It Bad" on YouTube last month. British art-rock types from the '70s and '80s sure love using AI! That sucks, especially given that this is specifically a song about "human endeavor." If you want to hear the song, however, this appears to be your best bet.
"Something About The Boy," the other new song on the single, is Moulding's version of a James Bond theme, something that he says he always wanted to write. You can order the CD here.
