Back catalogue: All genres

Review: This double pack brings together the original, pre-reformation Pixies' last two albums from the early 90s with Bossanova from 1990 marking a distinct shift in the band's sound, Black Francis pursuing a more 'space age heavy metal' direction, a vision he had long desired. The album is imbued with haunting melodies like in 'Ana' and 'Velouria' and contains some of Francis' best lyrical work, dealing in unsettling concepts and a dreamlike atmosphere that's unlike anything they'd done before. Following closely in 1991, Trompe le Monde continues this exploration, both musically and thematically, with its most famous moment 'Planet of Sound' seemingly joining the dots between punk and metal. The title track, which translates to 'Fool the World', sets the tone for an album that adds more avant-garde touches to their alternative rock. While maintaining the Pixies' signature style on 'Alec Eiffel' and the impossibly funky but still lead heavy 'U Mass' - the only track containing the c-word that even sneaked onto a Desert Island Discs playlist thanks to one Jimmy Carr - it still pushes the boundaries even further with more experimental elements. A comprehensive experience of this fascinating and often underrated period in the Pixies' career.