Pixies Mark 40th Anniversary With New Remasters of Bossanova and Trompe le Monde
Pixies are continuing their 40th anniversary celebrations with newly remastered editions of Bossanova and Trompe le Monde, released today alongside limited-edition vinyl packages featuring four previously unreleased recordings from the band’s archive.
Originally released in 1990 and 1991 respectively, Bossanova and Trompe le Monde have been remastered by Kevin Vanbergen as part of an ongoing project to revisit Pixies’ catalogue. The new editions are available digitally, on CD and standard black vinyl, while special pressings have been issued through Dinked International Editions, a new initiative involving 50 independent record stores across the UK, Ireland and United States.
The limited-edition packages include four previously unreleased tracks recorded between 1987 and 1991: “Dig For Fire (Albini Version),” “Go Man Go,” “Brackish Boy” and “Punk Loop.”
The Bossanova Dinked edition arrives on oxblood vinyl and includes a 16-page, 10-inch replica of the album’s original UK booklet, including its incorrect tracklisting. A separate seven-inch features “Dig For Fire (Albini Version)” and “Go Man Go.”
“Dig For Fire (Albini Version)” was recorded by Steve Albini in late 1987 during sessions for Surfer Rosa. The recording predates the version that appeared on Bossanova by almost three years and presents a notably different take on the song.
“Go Man Go,” meanwhile, is a collaboration between Black Francis and Kim Deal that was recorded by both Pixies and Deal’s later band The Breeders during sessions for Bossanova and Last Splash. Neither version initially appeared on those albums.
The track subsequently became known among fans through a bootleg recording of Breeders demos and several live performances before the master recording was rediscovered in 2023. The Breeders subsequently included their version on the 30th-anniversary reissue of Last Splash.
The Dinked edition of Trompe le Monde is pressed on sky-blue vinyl and includes a seven-inch containing “Brackish Boy” and “Punk Loop.”
“Brackish Boy” is closely associated with Black Francis, who later recorded the song for his 1993 debut solo album. The newly issued Pixies version comes directly from the album-session tape without additional post-production.
“Punk Loop” is the most unconventional of the four previously unreleased recordings. Recorded during the Trompe le Monde sessions in 1991, the track was originally labelled “Punk Loop” MSTR in the archive.
The new editions form part of a wider restoration project overseen by Vanbergen, who has been working through Pixies’ original tape archive to create high-resolution masters and Dolby Atmos mixes of the band’s catalogue.
The project has also included the band’s Live at The BBC and Complete B-Sides compilations, with the latter released in June.
Pixies will mark the new remasters with two 360-degree spatial-audio listening sessions in Dolby Atmos at Polygon Portal in London. The first is scheduled for October 1 at 9:30 p.m., followed by a second session on October 4 at 6 p.m.
The releases arrive as Pixies continue a worldwide tour celebrating their four decades as a band. The current run includes festival appearances at Riot Fest, Sea.Hear.Now and Ohana Festival, as well as headline dates across the United States.
The band has also announced additional South American shows for 2027, including dates in Santiago, Buenos Aires and São Paulo.
Pixies were formed in Boston in 1986 and went on to become one of the most influential alternative rock bands of their generation. Their catalogue, including Surfer Rosa, Doolittle, Bossanova and Trompe le Monde, has continued to influence generations of alternative and indie artists.
The 2026 remastered editions of Bossanova and Trompe le Monde, along with the limited Dinked International Edition vinyl packages, are available now.
image credit Renaud Monfourny