Released on 23 September 1991—just a day before the iconic "Nevermind" and other sonic gems at the time—"Trompe Le Monde" was the fourth studio album by the US alternative rock band Pixies. Produced by Gil Norton, it was the band's final album before their breakup two years later and the last to feature the talents of founding bassist Kim Deal.
Four magnificent singles were released from the album: "Planet of Sound," "Alec Eiffel," the incredible "Head On," and finally "Letter to Memphis"—with the Jesus & Mary Chain cover reaching No. 6 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.
The story of this album—often underrated and arguably forgotten for various reasons—was complex; perhaps its sound was somewhat eccentric, or internal band tensions played a role (Kim Deal had simply had enough). Vocalist Francis sent a fax to everyone except Joey Santiago announcing the decision to end the band at that time—though, as we know, they later returned stronger than ever over the last decade and remain active, albeit without Deal.
Another plausible reason for its obscurity is that it was released just a day before albums such like "Nevermind" or "Blood Sugar Sex Magik"; althought those records were also slow burners, they became inonic and effectively swallowing "Trompe Le Monde's" legacy and consigning it to oblivion. Very few people were familiar with "Trompe le Monde", and perhaps only in recent years the album finally received its due; while the band's earlier releases were monumental, this record holds its own against its illustrious predecessors.
The band still sounded great here, experimenting with keyboards and leaning into a raw rock sound—albeit one somewhat hampered by Deal’s lack of creative input. Nevertheless, the album delivered rhythm, great guitar work, distortion, energy, vibe, and plenty of emotion. Standout tracks include those reflecting a fascination with ufology and science fiction—such as the aggressive, strident, hardcore-tinged "Space (I Believe In)"; the quirky "The Sad Punk," featuring a vocal performance where Black Francis sounds like a screaming asylum patient; and the vibrant "Alec Eiffel," reportedly written in honor of the Eiffel Tower's creator. Yet, the undisputed gem is their cover of The Jesus and Mary Chain’s "Head On"—a version that improved upon the original and was accompanied by an incredible music video that saw heavy rotation on MTV.
There was also the obscene "U-Mass," where Francis unleashed his raunchiest side; the guitar-driven "Letter to Memphis"; "Motorway to Roswell," another track touching on the UFO phenomenon; and "The Navajo Know," which addressed the social issue of the mistreatment of the Navajo people. These tracks rounded out a great album that few understood at the time.
While one might be tempted to blame Nirvana, Soundgarden, or the Red Hot Chili Peppers—who released their own albums around the same time—for overshadowing it, we must remember that the grunge phenomenon didn't happen overnight. However, once it exploded, it literally caused many things to be forgotten, and this album was undoubtedly one of them.
Now, thirty five years later, we are rescuing it from obscurity and give it the honored place it deserves—regardless of whether it is considered the first album... ...Francis’s solo work due to Deal’s limited involvement in songwriting; however, one must not forget that the band was undoubtedly ahead of its time and laid the groundwork for the indie sound that would dominate the 90s—including "Nevermind", where one of the standout tracks, "Smells Like Teen Spirit," was in every sense a song clearly influenced by the Pixies.
Trompe Le Monde Track List:
1. Trompe Le Monde
2. Alec Eiffel
3. Planet Sound
4. The Sad Punk
5. Head On
6. U-Mass
7. Palace Of The Brine
8. Letter To Memphis
9. Bird Dream Of The Olympus Mons
10. Space (I Believe In)
11. Subbacultcha
12. Distance Equals Rates Times Time
13. Lovely Day
14. Motorway To Roswell
15. The Navajo Know
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