Song · XTC
“Travels in Nihilon” by XTC
From the album Black Sea (1980)
“Travels in Nihilon” by XTC appears on 1 radio countdown from 1 station in 2003. It was first released in 1980 on the album Black Sea. Its best result is #1980 on the Fred XM Top 2044 Songs of All-Time (July 2003). In the combined RockLists rankings it is #7,524 alternative song of all time.
Andy Partridge wrote and sings "Travels in Nihilon", which comes from Black Sea, XTC's fourth album, released on Virgin on 12 September 1980. Like Drums and Wires the year before, it was made at Virgin's Town House studio in London with Steve Lillywhite producing and Hugh Padgham engineering, still built on guitars and big, roomy drums but with leaner arrangements the band could reproduce on stage, overdubs allowed only when they could be played live.
The album's working title was Work Under Pressure, a nod to the band's punishing cycle of tours and sessions; when their manager objected, Partridge renamed it Black Sea after his state of mind while writing it. The road kept calling, including a run opening for the Police, until his fatigue had XTC off the road indefinitely by 1982.
Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz.
RockLists rankings
Alternative & Modern Rock
All Rock Formats
All-time and decade countdowns
| Year | # | Station | Countdown | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 1980 | Fred (XM 44) | Fred XM Top 2044 Songs of All-Time (July 2003) | 2044 |
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