The XTC songwriter’s new solo release lands on the 47th anniversary of ‘Making Plans for Nigel’
Colin Moulding, founding member and one of the creative minds behind XTC, previews here on Retrofuturista his new solo EP, Want It Bad (The Pep Talks and Playing Fields of Old England), available today on CD through Burning Shed. The release date, September 18th, falls exactly 47 years after “Making Plans for Nigel,” the Moulding penned single that gave the band its first UK Top 20 hit in 1979.
Artist: Colin Moulding
Release Date: 2026-09-18
Genres: Art Rock, New Wave, Post-punk, Power Pop
Label: Burning Shed
Description: Colin Moulding of XTC shares his solo EP Want It Bad on Burning Shed, out September 18, with three tracks including a James Bond inspired demo.
Featured image: © Geoff Winn
Following the release of its title song, the project opens a window onto the British artist’s creative process. What began as a motivational sports anthem gradually took on a deeper meaning, becoming an expression of Moulding’s outlook on life. At its heart is his approach to pop: carefully crafted melodies, a subtle sense of irony, and a strong affection for the past.
The journey continues with “Something About The Boy (James Bond Demo for Female Voice),” a track rooted in his childhood passion for 007 films and his never hidden dream of collaborating with John Barry; to demonstrate the initial idea, Moulding ended up singing the female vocal line himself. Closing the record is “Want It Bad (Demo),” a raw, essential first sketch recorded in about an hour with a single handheld microphone, featuring different lyrics and no bass line.
The artwork, created by Andrew Swainson, and the video, directed by Thomas Walsh, draw inspiration from Les Coureurs, a painting by French artist Robert Delaunay; the lines of its runners fully capture that sense of human effort and determination Moulding wanted to bring to the project.
This is Moulding’s second solo release following The Hardest Battle. The writer of XTC’s first three charting singles (including “Life Begins at the Hop” and “Generals and Majors”), the musician remained alongside Andy Partridge until the band’s split in 2006. In 1984 he created the psychedelic alter ego The Dukes of Stratosphear, and in more recent years reunited with longtime drummer Terry Chambers in the TC&I project.
The Want It Bad CD, packaged in a four panel digisleeve, is available exclusively through Burning Shed, alongside The Hardest Battle and the TC&I catalogue.
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