PIXIES: The Night The Zombies Came (ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Two years after the release of their “Doggerel”, the legendary Boston band formed in the mid-80s, The Pixies, returned last October with their tenth album, “The Night the Zombies Came”, produced by Tom Dalgety (Cult, Band Of Skulls, Simple Minds). Having split up in 1993 before reforming in 2004, Pixies continue to move forward, offering a rock that's sometimes edgy and true to its roots, sometimes more soothing and introspective, led by the historic trio Black Francis (vocals, guitar), Joey Santiago (guitar) and David Lovering (drums), joined for the occasion by Emma Richardson (bass, backing vocals). (Original bassist Kim Deal, who founded The Breeders in the late '80s, made the decision to leave the band in 2013).

As is often the case when a new Pixies album is announced, one wonders whether the band will manage to return to the raw energy so characteristic of its origins - found in both “Surfer Rosa” (1988) and the equally excellent “Doolittle” (1989) - and which was to inspire so many '90s bands, starting perhaps with Nirvana. While “The Night the Zombies Came” retains something of the band's trademark (particularly the energetic, catchy 'You're So Impatient' and 'Oyster Beds'), the style here is quite different from what Pixies had accustomed us to in the early part of their career, still offbeat, but less snarling, more temperate and restrained, with forays into folk rock or psychedelic rock ('Primrose', 'Mercy Me', 'Chicken'). This in itself is not to be regretted, since a band of Pixies' calibre cannot be expected to simply repeat the same few unchanged formulas that brought them worldwide success in their heyday.

Far from hanging up their gloves, Pixies continue to evolve towards a style that may leave fans of the early days wanting more, but which others may on the contrary consider to be that of a certain maturity, marked by sounds that are both more experimental and perhaps better mastered. Whatever the case, Pixies prove that they are still very much alive, that their career is not yet over, and that they may well have some surprises in store for us in the years to come. - Official website

PIXIES

THE NIGHT THE ZOMBIES CAME

AUTRE LABEL

ROCK