Pixies have made four rare recordings from 1987 to 1991 available on streaming platforms for the first time: “Dig for Fire (Albini Version),” “Go Man Go,” “Brackish Boy,” and “Punk Loop.” Released digitally on November 2 by 4AD, the tracks feature recordings from sessions for three of the band’s albums.
These recordings had previously been included on bonus 7-inch singles that accompanied the limited-edition releases of the Dinked International series for the albums Bossanova (1990) and Trompe le Monde (1991). The remastered reissues hit the market on September 11 as part of the band’s 40th-anniversary celebrations.
“Dig for Fire (Albini Version)”
Before becoming one of the singles from Bossanova, “Dig for Fire” was recorded with Steve Albini in late 1987, during the Surfer Rosa (1988) sessions. Quite different from the official version released in 1990, this recording was recovered for the 7-inch single included with the Bossanova reissue, alongside “Go Man Go.”
“Go Man Go”
Written by Black Francis and Kim Deal, “Go Man Go” was recorded by Pixies during the Bossanova sessions and, later, by The Breeders during the Last Splash (1993) sessions, but was left off both original albums. The Breeders’ recording was revived in 2023 for the 30th-anniversary edition of Last Splash. Now, Pixies’ version is also being released digitally.
“Brackish Boy”
Recorded during the Trompe le Monde sessions, “Brackish Boy” ended up becoming better known in the version released by Black Francis (under the pseudonym Frank Black) on his first solo album in 1993. The Pixies’ original recording is included on the bonus EP of the Trompe le Monde reissue and was mastered directly from the session tape, without any additional post-production.
“Punk Loop”
Also recorded during the Trompe le Monde sessions in 1991, “Punk Loop” rounds out the collection of rarities. The track remained in the band’s archives until it was recovered for the same 7-inch single that features “Brackish Boy.”
