XTC is often too clever for its own good, which probably explains why this British trio has never amassed anything more than a cult following here. It's not that the band has been deficient in the melodic end of things – its songs are routinely hummable – but all too frequently, the group's gimmickry gets in the way of its songs. Fortunately, Mummer finds the band concentrating on reinforcing, not cluttering, its material, and the result is XTC's most accessible album yet.

"Beating of Hearts," which leads off the LP, is a perfect example. Although the arrangement, with its chiming guitars and droning, synthesized strings, has a pronounced Middle Eastern flavor, guitarist Andy Partridge uses this instrumental exotica to telegraph the rich, melodic vocal lines. Colin Moulding's "Wonderland" uses electronic insect noises to establish the song's pastoral mood, and the filtered buzzing and humming give the song a soothing feel.

But the most impressive moments here aren't the result of such high-tech sound effects. Instead, they come when the band employs more standard songwriting devices or simply relies on unadorned melodic charm. "Great Fire," the album's single, balances a thudding waltz beat with an intoxicating melody outfitted with real strings, and its most thrilling effect comes before the final reprise of the chorus, as the band modulates up a key. When XTC hit such moments, or when they simply leave well enough alone, as on "Ladybird" or "Love on a Farmboy's Wages," they manage not only to charm, but to dazzle. And that's the cleverest trick of all. (RS 418)

J.D. CONSIDINE