Pixies. INDIE CINDY. Pixiesmusic

The release of the band’s first studio album since the wonderful TROMPE LE MONDE back in 1991 has the potential to be the rock release event of 2014. I last saw the band perform to a sellout crowd of many thousands at Manchester’s Old Trafford cricket ground in 2004. The reaction to the band far exceeded the suport given to any other act at that music festival which included several big-hitters. I was blown away.

So, a special event needs a special album and INDIE CINDY does not disappoint. The opening heavy rock number ‘What Goes Down’ is full of angry riffs, pounding rhythm and punk-style vocals underpinned by a tangible melody with beautifully judged production. This is a humdinger of a song with pop sensability at a level that doesn’t betray the band’s alt rock roots. Wonderful!

‘Greens And Blues’ slows the pace while providing clean air for Black Francis to display his very young-sounding vocal skills. With even more pop sensibility, strong melody and rousing choruses this could easily be the band’s first single off the album. What is so intriguing about this album is the diversity of sounds, moods and pace. ‘Indie Cindy’ is a prime example which opens with the spoken word before launching into a song that includes magnificent guitar riffs, powerful drumming, another fabulous melody and vocal harmonies which add up to a sound not dissimilar to Grandaddy.

‘Bagboy’ opens with another spoken word verse stunningly backed by soaring guitars and ocean-deep drum rhythm. hell, this album just keeps getting better! ‘Magdalena 318′ chnages sound again with off-tune moments, lumbering pace and echoed vocals that make this sound like something from the 80s. ‘Silver Snail’ travels along at deathly slow pace while travelling down a new sonic track before jangling guitar sounds introduce the rockier and darker ‘Blue Eyed Hexe’ with its nuclear bass line and heavy metal vocals.

Check out the Petshop Boys style ‘Andro Queen’ - yet another amazing change of sound and style.

This is one very special album from a band that has no right to be so good, so now. Some of the blame must go to Gil Norton who has done such a superb job on production. Undoubtadly one of the best and most surprising albums of 2014.

5/5

Album Background

March 24, 2014 — Fans have dreamed about it for years, and now Pixies are delivering.  Indie Cindy, the band’s first full studio album since 1991’s Trompe le Monde, will be released in late April (April 23/Japan, April 28/UK/Europe/International, April 29/North America) on the band’s own independent label, Pixiesmusic (marketed and distributed worldwide by [PIAS] Recordings).  Pre-orders for most configurations can be placed beginning today at iTunes, Amazon, and other online retail outlets.

“We started seriously talking about recording new music about four years ago,” said Pixies drummer David Lovering.  “New music seemed like something we just had to do, we just couldn’t continue to go out and tour without anything new.  So the talk evolved into writing and recording, and we’re all very happy with the way everything worked out.”

The 12 cuts on Indie Cindy were produced by Gil Norton, producer of the band’s classic Doolittle, Bossanova, and Trompe le Monde albums, and recorded during October 2012 at Rockfield Studios in Wales, UK.  The various packages feature a collection of brand new artwork by the legendary graphic artist Vaughan Oliver who created the artwork for all of Pixies’ previous releases.  The album is comprised of “Bagboy,” the band’s first new song in more than a decade, the eight tracks from the band’s EP-1 and EP-2, released September 3, 2013 and January 3, 2014 respectively, plus the three new tunes from the just-released EP-3 – all written by the Pixies – Black Francis/vocals, guitar; Joey Santiago/guitars; David Lovering/drums, backing vocals.  With EP-1, EP-2 and now EP-3 having been available only in digital and limited-edition vinyl formats, Indie Cindy will mark the first time fans can have all of the new Pixies music in one collection.

Pixies are making Indie Cindy available in a selection of formats:

* as a standard 12-track single-CD digipak with booklet
* as a two-disc, deluxe gatefold album, pressed on 180-gram vinyl
* as a standard 12-track digital download via iTunes, Amazon, and other online retail sellers
* as an expanded digital download exclusively through iTunes that includes a bonus live-in-concert 13-track set recorded during the band’s recently-completed North American tour

* available at pixiesmusic.com, a special deluxe, limited edition (5,000) two-disc set (available as a CD and as a deluxe gatefold album pressed on 180-gram vinyl) that includes the 13-track live disc.  This deluxe package also includes a 40-page, hard-back book that features the new artwork produced exclusively for Indie Cindy.  The CD limited edition is packaged in a special gold-foil hard slipcase.

There’s more!  On April 19, a week before the official release date and exclusively for Record Store Day, Pixies will make Indie Cindy available as a special RSD limited edition, two-disc, deluxe gatefold, 180-gram vinyl set, only from independent record stores participating in RSD around the world.  When these are gone, they’re gone.

While Pixies have been acclaimed as the most influential, pioneering band of the late 80s alt/rock movement, having blazed the trail for artists from Nirvana to Radiohead to Pearl Jam, today, a whole new generation of music fans are discovering their iconic “loudquietloud” signature sound.  After five genre-defining studio albums, Pixies disbanded in 1993, and then launched their reunion tour in April 2004, playing to sell-out crowds all over the globe for seven years, a longer period of time than they were a band originally.  But writing, recording and releasing new music was something that the band had been wanting to do for a long time, so they secretly booked studio time in Wales for the fall of 2012.  Six days into the recording, founding bassist Kim Deal decided to leave the band; Black Francis, Joey Santiago and David Lovering made the decision to carry on, working with a variety of touring bassists, something they’d never done.  As the UK’s DIY wrote about the new music, “They’re back.  They’re still brilliant.  God save the Pixies.”