With XTC now firmly behind him, Andy Partridge continues to dabble in varied projects, the latest of which is a super-limited album of ‘aural sculptures’ inspired by the late sci-fi book-jacket artist Richard M. Powers.

Less than a month after dropping its debut EP, Peter Hook’s triple-bass supergroup Freebass — which also features The Smiths’ Andy Rourke and Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield of The Stone Roses and Primal Scream — today released its five-years-in-the-making album, ‘It’s a Beautiful Life.’

The remaining members of INXS this week released a new 16-track digital-only best-of called ‘Platinum: Greatest Hits’ that will appeal to diehard fans mostly for the ample bonus it comes with: ‘Seriously Live,’ a 26-song double live album that spans the band’s 30-year career.

There’s a flurry of activity on tap from Modern English next month as the British post-punk/New Wave act releases ‘Soundtrack’ — its seventh studio album and first batch of new songs in 14 years — and issues 1986’s ‘Stop Start’ on CD for the first time.

The second post-reunion album from Crowded House — dubbed ‘Intriguer’ — will be released this June under the band’s new deal with Universal Music, and will be followed by a lengthy, 28-date tour of North America beginning in July.

Erasure singer Andy Bell will show off his “his more clubby, nocturnal, disco-glam side” on ‘Non-Stop,’ his forthcoming second solo album — which features a duet with Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell.

Ex-New Order bassist Peter Hook’s long-gestating Freebass — a triple-bass supergroup featuring The Smiths’ Andy Rourke and Gary “Mani” Mounfield of The Stone Roses and Primal Scream — today released its debut EP and will make its official live debut in London and Manchester in June.