I like accidents. I like to put myself in the way of musical harm. I like being at the wheel of
that musical car and aiming it at the wall just to see what shape the car s going to come
out. It might come out an interesting shape that would have taken me forever to decide on
otherwise. Complicated Game offers a unique insight into the work of one of Britain's most
original and influential songwriters-and an unprecedentedly revealing and instructive guide to
how songs and records are made. Developed from a series of interviews conducted over many
months this fascinating book explores in detail some thirty XTC songs-including well-known
singles such as 'Senses Working Overtime' and the controversial 'Dear God'-from throughout the
group's thirty-year career. It casts new light on the writing of lyrics the construction of
melodies and arrangements the process of recording and the workings of the?music industry.
But it is also filled with anecdotes about Partridge his XTC bandmates and their adventures
around the world all told with the songwriter's legendary humour. The book also includes pages
from Partridge's songwriting notebooks and reproductions of his original artwork designs as
well as a guide to Andy Partridge's Swindon and a foreword by Steven Wilson the guitarist
songwriter and record producer best known as the founder and leader of Porcupine Tree.
