XTC – Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2)

A simply breathtaking pressing. Quiet throughout and the instrument separation is superb. The best sounding copy of this album that i've ever heard.

Yep, this is the one. If you love this album, save your pennies and get this pressing. You won’t be sorry.

Boy, this one needs a bit of volume but I think it sounds pretty fair when cranked a bit. Certainly not the best of the Ape House reissues.

I'm pleased to have a copy of this LP, which came as part of a bundle including Skylarking/ Apple Venus & Wasp Star. I'd never heard this one, so was excited to get a copy. Unfortunately, the sound is kinda dead/flat. As others have said, it has no real dynamics, separation, highs/lows. It's nice to have but not as much of an experience. It does kind of color my enjoyment of this release. The copy I received is flat, very quiet, and clean. Other Ape House releases have been beautiful, sounding rich, and satisfying. Don't know what happened here. More guitars than AV and a bit quirkier which harkens back to their earlier works. I guess the neon peacock feather could be an "electric" version of its predecessor. Just an art director's interpretation of the packaging art. Need to listen through a few more times to fully get the vibe here. Cheers! Jc

Sounds amazing!! Really worth every $$, don't waste your time with much inferior reissue, this 1st press is the way to go!

I bought the CD direct from Cooking Vinyl when it was released.
Signed in gold pen by both Andy Partridge & Colin Moulding.

Be careful of the inner sleeves that came with this and Apple Venus 1 - my copy started to develop vinyl rash in the dead wax - thankfully it cleaned up ok and I replaced the inner.

And for Wasp Star (vol 2)...The good: You don't have on vinyl and don't wanna pay someone $100, then great.
Sound is clean. Good press on vinyl.
The mediocre:
Low compressed sound with little highs.
Shrunk down to 1 LP from Double LP. Not the worst thing. Honestly some Colin song's could have gone straight to the bin...
A/B against my original copy and the Cooking Vinyl pressing is loud and beautiful.
Either way this is a great LP and not to be missed.
For $24 on amazon or eBay it IS WORTH IT.
If you can nab the original press... agreed. It is superior!

has anyone ever seen a cassette copy? i never have in all my searching, but chalkhills lists it, and i have seen -one- copy of apple venus on tape, so it seems plausible