In the dead of winter last year, Pixies holed up in a 19th Century church-turned-recording studio in the Catskill Mountains to create their latest album, 'Beneath The Eyrie'.
For three weeks, the four-piece lived and worked at the remote location deep in the New York countryside. Although the studio was chosen for its extensive range of equipment rather than its setting, guitarist Joey Santiago believes the isolated, natural location had a subconscious impact on the album’s themes.According to Santiago, the band didn’t go into the studio with the intention to “make a gothic record”, but they certainly emerged with one.
Rich in unsettling Byronesque imagery, the album explores the idea of death and the supernatural through Black Francis’ mystical, evocative lyrics. With themes spanning reincarnation, crucifixion, murder and black magic, the album is surreal, eerie and at times psychedelic.
“At night time when we were having dinner, we’d talk about our surroundings a lot. It was a creepy environment. Supposedly there’s a ghost that lives in the church,” he says.
“The light [in the studio] came through stained-glass windows, so you didn’t get a perfect view outside. It was always psychedelic looking, and it looked really creepy."
With its tales of the macabre rooted in folklore and mythology, 'Beneath The Eyrie' makes for an engaging listen from a lyrical standpoint – and then there’s the music.
The band draw upon their iconic juxtaposition of catchy indie rock and bizarre lyrics while simultaneously breaking new ground by incorporating elements of folk, gritty blues and psychobilly. “Any time I could throw in some western twang, I would try to do that – like Ennio Morricone,” shares Santiago.
This influence shines through the strongest on ‘Silver Bullet’, a track that would feel at home in a Sergio Leone film. The making of the album was documented in a 12-part podcast released in the lead-up to its launch. It’s a Pixies Podcast, created by music biographer Tony Fletcher, tracks the entire three-week period of the band’s time at the studio and provides listeners with an all-encompassing look at the creative process behind 'Beneath The Eyrie'.
According to Santiago, the band’s manager pitched the idea to the four-piece as a way of getting fans excited for the latest release. “My thought was that I love watching rock documentaries. [The podcast] is good for eager fans and musos who are into the technical bits.”
While the band was initially concerned the podcast would distract them from creating the album, Santiago states they forgot the microphones were present after a while.
The series provides an insight into Santiago’s anxiety towards writing music, where he questions his ability to produce guitar parts he’s satisfied with. “It does hinder me. There’s always care, but you don’t have to go to that extreme anxiety to get there.”
Combined with the fact that 'Beneath The Eyrie' is the first Pixies album Santiago has worked on sober, Fletcher’s presence was at times therapeutic, with the guitarist describing the biographer as “an in-depth, specific therapist for that moment in the studio".
Although writing without the aid of alcohol contributed to Santiago’s anxiety in the studio, he shares that he now plays better live and has a clearer understanding of his emotions. And as for his feelings on the album now that it’s out? “It folds well into the old stuff. Really well. If [there was] one word [to describe it], I would say I’m proud of it."
Sun 8 Mar - Golden Plains Festival (VIC)
Mon 9 Mar - Palais Theatre (Melbourne)
Tue 10 Mar - Palais Theatre (Melbourne) - sold out
Thu 12 Mar - The Fortitude Music Hall (Brisbane)
Fri 13 Mar - The Fortitude Music Hall (Brisbane) - sold out
Sat 14 Mar - Sydney Opera House Forecourt - sold out
Sun 15 Mar - Sydney Opera House Forecourt
Tue 17 Mar - Fremantle Arts Centre - sold out
The band draw upon their iconic juxtaposition of catchy indie rock and bizarre lyrics while simultaneously breaking new ground by incorporating elements of folk, gritty blues and psychobilly. “Any time I could throw in some western twang, I would try to do that – like Ennio Morricone,” shares Santiago.
This influence shines through the strongest on ‘Silver Bullet’, a track that would feel at home in a Sergio Leone film. The making of the album was documented in a 12-part podcast released in the lead-up to its launch. It’s a Pixies Podcast, created by music biographer Tony Fletcher, tracks the entire three-week period of the band’s time at the studio and provides listeners with an all-encompassing look at the creative process behind 'Beneath The Eyrie'.
According to Santiago, the band’s manager pitched the idea to the four-piece as a way of getting fans excited for the latest release. “My thought was that I love watching rock documentaries. [The podcast] is good for eager fans and musos who are into the technical bits.”
While the band was initially concerned the podcast would distract them from creating the album, Santiago states they forgot the microphones were present after a while.
The series provides an insight into Santiago’s anxiety towards writing music, where he questions his ability to produce guitar parts he’s satisfied with. “It does hinder me. There’s always care, but you don’t have to go to that extreme anxiety to get there.”
Combined with the fact that 'Beneath The Eyrie' is the first Pixies album Santiago has worked on sober, Fletcher’s presence was at times therapeutic, with the guitarist describing the biographer as “an in-depth, specific therapist for that moment in the studio".
Although writing without the aid of alcohol contributed to Santiago’s anxiety in the studio, he shares that he now plays better live and has a clearer understanding of his emotions. And as for his feelings on the album now that it’s out? “It folds well into the old stuff. Really well. If [there was] one word [to describe it], I would say I’m proud of it."
'Beneath The Eyrie' is out now.
Pixies 2020 Tour Dates
Sun 8 Mar - Golden Plains Festival (VIC)Mon 9 Mar - Palais Theatre (Melbourne)
Tue 10 Mar - Palais Theatre (Melbourne) - sold out
Thu 12 Mar - The Fortitude Music Hall (Brisbane)
Fri 13 Mar - The Fortitude Music Hall (Brisbane) - sold out
Sat 14 Mar - Sydney Opera House Forecourt - sold out
Sun 15 Mar - Sydney Opera House Forecourt
Tue 17 Mar - Fremantle Arts Centre - sold out
