I apologize if this ends up being a duplicate posting on a previously mentioned release cycle. A few days ago Wayside Music posted listings for remastered versions of most everything in the XTC Virgin catalog. The reissues go from White Music through Oranges & Lemons. The brief commentary says that they are 2013 Ape House (the Andy Partridge label) remasters. Cross-checking with Amazon reveals they are all considered import titles with a June 2014 release date. I haven't heard anything about particular program. I had thought the XTC reissue campaign centered on Steven Wilson remastered editions like the recent Nonesuch. So IMWANians, my questions are:

1) Does anybody know what the purpose of this reissue campaign is?
2) Who did the remastering?
3) Do the Ape House editions include any extras such as bonus tracks or linear notes (New linear notes do incentive my tissue purchasing, proving that you can indeed dance about architecture).?
4) Does this campaign supersede the Steven Wilson program?

This one snuck up on me so I'm really clueless as to what's going on.

Link added by Linda:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?search- ... g=imwan-20

These are almost certainly the 2001 remasters repackaged by ApeHouse.

The only other XTC stereo/surround remix by Steven Wilson that is scheduled to be released is "Drums & Wires", coming late September.
No other multitrack tapes for XTC albums have been located, making a remix impossible at this point.

If Virgin has lost the XTC multi-tracks, then no wonder Andy Partridge has a dim view of the performance of his previous record label. I guess the dream of a complete Steven Wilson overhaul of the catalogue ends with "Drums & Wires". So, given this situation, should the 2001 remasters be considered as good as it's going to get, as far as remastering goes?

The only XTC remaster I would get at this point would be the "Corrected Polarity Edition" of "Skylarking".
More info here: viewtopic.php?f=17&t=68309

Other than that, I would be patient and see if the situation changes.

Note that the 2001 remasters were also remixes. If you're like me, you'll keep both CD versions (although I only have the original CD version of a few early albums that aren't favorites). I'm sure that most tracks have identical mixes, but someone here pointed out a few years ago that certain tracks have obvious changes. Listen to the intro to "Garden of Earthly Delights", and you'll hear a difference. Can't remember the other tracks that were mentioned having changes on them.