Rocktrospectiva: The Rocker "Bossanova" Turns 35

Released on 13 August 1990 "Bossanova" was the third studio album by US indie rock band Pixies, the album managed to peak No. 70 at the Billboard 200, and No. 3 in the UK, spawning three singles "Velouria" & "Dig For Fire". 

 

The album was a truly dramatic turn from their previous work, stepped in surf music, paranormal and science fiction subjects as usual, the production was pretty clean than "Surfer Rosa", there was the Pixies proving their versatility in the alternative bandwagon. After Pixies finished touring for their second album, Doolittle (1989), in January 1990, band members Black Francis, Joey Santiago, and David Lovering moved from Boston to Los Angeles. Bassist Kim Deal stayed in the UK to record the Breeders' first album in January with producer Steve Albini, although she ultimately decided to travel out to Los Angeles with the rest of the group. 

 

Although Lovering stated that he, Santiago, and Francis moved to Los Angeles because that's where they intended to record their next album. Pixies started recording material for Bossanova at Cherokee Studios in February 1990, where the sessions ran into problems. Producer, Norton said that nothing could be recorded after 6 p.m. because the recording desk would pick up pirate radio stations. Norton decided to work on overdubs in another studio for a few days until the problem was corrected, but when he returned to Cherokee, he found that any time something was plugged into a guitar amplifier it would generate "this incredible hum". Norton refused to tell 4AD owner Ivo Watts-Russell about the problem until he felt he could address it. One day while visiting a bar, Norton and Santiago met producer Rick Rubin and informed him of their situation. Rubin had his secretary find another studio for the group, and the band continued recording at Master Control.

 

The album was a landmark in Pixies career, considered it often an excellent album,  in contrast to previous records, many songs were written in the studio and few demo recordings were created. Santiago said that the band only practiced for a two-week period, in contrast to previous albums, when the band would rehearse constantly in Boston. Black Francis noted, "So I was writing [lyrics] on napkins five minutes before I sang. Sometimes it's good, sometimes not. That's just the nature of that songwriting."

 

The album includes the band's first instrumental "Cecilia Ann", followed by the powerhouse "Rock Music", in the case of "Velouria" the album's first single followed by "Dig For Fire", there was a curious story, the song was written as a love song rooted in Francis's experience with a girl associated with the Rosicrucians of Northern California. The lyrics also touched on Francis's interest in UFOs. Musically, the song features surf rock elements as well as a prominent theremin part. "Velouria" was released as the lead single from Bossanova in July 1990 and became the band's first Top 40 hit in the United Kingdom. The release was accompanied by a music video, featuring a short clip of the band in a quarry slowed down to fit the song's length. "Velouria", other perfect numbers were "Allison", "All Over The World", "Down To The Well", the bizarre "The Happening" which was Francis' first song about Aliens, a common topic on the band next record. 

 

The critics were positive mainly in the UK, noting the album's production clean and straight to the point unlike the harsh and grungy garage sound of "Surfer Rosa", a more straight-ahead rock album in the terms of Pixies standars that keep them off the mainstream.  Bossanova is often overlooked because it is sandwiched betweed Doolittle and the Pixies' final album, but when given a listen you'll find a quite rewarding album. 

 

Bossanova Track List:  

 

1. Cecilia Ann

2. Rock Music

3. Velouria

4. Allison

5. Is She Weird

6. Ana

7. All Over The World

8. Dig For Fire

9. Down To The Well

10. The Happening

11. Blown Away

12. Hang Wire

13. Stormy Weather

14. Havalina