Pixies: Pixies At the BBC 1988-91 (3LP) LP

Between 1988 and 1991 - during the band’s 4AD years – Pixies recorded six sessions for the BBC, five for John Peel and one for Mark Goodier. Catching the raw energy of the band’s live performances, these sessions felt immediately noteworthy, timestamping a moment when Black Francis, Kim Deal, Joey Santiago and David Lovering were motoring out front.

Among the twenty-four tracks they recorded in this time period (inc. two doubles - ‘Allison’ and ‘Wave of Mutilation’) are favorites from mini-album Come on Pilgrim and three of their four 4AD studio albums. Also recorded were three covers; reworks of The Beatles’ ‘Wild Honey Pie’, Eraserhead’s ‘(In Heaven) Lady in the Radiator Song’ and The Beach Boys’ ‘Hang On To Your Ego’, a track Black Francis covered a few years later on his debut Frank Black solo album.

Differing from the original 1998 compilation, this reboot sees all tracks from the six sessions now included and presented in chronological order. Something fans have been asking for. The sleeve is also new with a wonderful black and gold design by Chris Bigg now adorning it. A design that really stands out, Chris pays loving tribute here to the band’s late-visual director Vaughan Oliver, using unseen archival Pixies imagery by long-time collaborator Simon Larbalestier.

On the same day as this release, Pixies will be in Dublin on the first night of a sold-out tour where they’re playing both albums Bossanova and Trompe le Monde in full.